Hardik Patel showered with money in public meet, video goes viral

Ahmedabad: A video clip purportedly showing Patel quota stir leader Hardik Patel being showered with currency notes at a public gathering in Surat district went viral on social media on Sunday.

The clip, which has been put up on social media portals, including Youtube, showed people showering currency notes on Hardik while he was speaking at a folk music function, ‘Dayro’, in Gosamada village of Surat in the wee hours of Sunday.

Hardik’s supporters are seen in the video raising slogans of ‘Jai Patidar, Jai Sardar’ even as the compere of the function appealed to the people not to shower currency notes.

Speaking at the function, 22-year-old Hardik asked Patels not to forget the atrocities their community members were subjected to during the tension that broke out in Ahmedabad, Mehsana and Surat districts and in other parts of the state in August.

“Do not forget the martyrdom of our nine Patidar youths… If this kind of enthusiasm (for the stir) will continue, then Saurashtra will also witness a 25 August rally like the one held in Ahmedabad,” he said even as a group of people continued to shower currency notes on him.

Hardik’s close aides Dinesh Bambhania and Ketan Patel were also seen on the stage.

Bambhania later said that the practice of showering currency notes at functions like ‘Dayro’ was very common.

“We held ‘Dayro’ in Gosamada village where people showered notes on Hardik. It is very common in Gujarat,” he said.

Hardik had earlier announced a Dayro programme as he was not given permission for a rally in Surat.

Watch the video below.

PTI