Patidar leader Hardik Patel bats for Rahul Gandhi, may join Congress but on condition

Hardik Patel, the hero of Gujarat's Patidar community, is open to joining Rahul Gandhi's Congress party. When? Well, it's only a matter of time.

The young, charismatic leader spoke his mind in a free-wheeling interview with India Today as Gujarat voted in the first phase of polling.

"If there's a chance to do something good, we'll do whatever is good," Patel told India Today's Rahul Kanwal, when asked if he thought of joining the Congress.

"If it's for something good, I'll definitely go there," Patel revealed, driving through the streets of Ahmedabad on his Royal Enfield. "If the people decide, then I will follow their decision. If it's be better for the people, I will definitely think about it," Patel said, prodded if he would accept an invitation from Rahul Gandhi to join his party.

HARDIK DEFENDS RAHUL

The leader of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) stoutly defended the Congress' president-elect over criticism of his political acumen, saying lampooning him as "Pappu" was as bad as Mani Shankar Aiyar's "neech" remark for the prime minister."They did not like the term 'neech'. So, if they are calling him a 'Pappu', that can't be acceptable either."

Patel, 24, expressed confidence that Rahul Gandhi would transform into a potential challenge for both Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

"Yes, definitely," the Patidar leader insisted when asked if Gandhi could give a tough fight to the two stalwarts of the ruling party. "If one learns, one does become capable of mounting a challenge."

Patel countered the BJP and the prime minister for the scathing attacks on Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her son. "What about the barbs and jibes Mr Modi aims at Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi?" he asked. "If Modi is so hurt by verbal attacks on him and wants others to apologise, why does he not apologise for brutal physical assault on Patel youths in Gujarat?" Patel said, recalling police firing on Patidar demonstrators in Gujarat two years ago.

BJP'S DIVERSIONARY TACTICS

The Patidar leader accused the BJP of using diversionary tactics in state elections.

He alleged his opponents in the saffron party were trying to weaken in core base among Gujarat's Patidars.

"The BJP pressured them (my supporters and aides) into leaving me. But you can see that it has not affected my popularity. There is no effect on the crowds coming to my rallies," Patel, not old enough to stand for elections himself, maintained.

In what appeared to be a balancing act over the touchy Ayodhya issue, he said the disputed site could house both a temple and a mosque. Patel, however, was quick to get back to the development plank, saying none of them could resolve joblessness.

"Build a Ram temple and a Babri mosque so that both religions are taken care of. But the question is whether a Ram temple would create jobs. Go ahead and build a Ram temple but don't fan fundamentalism in the name of it," he argued. "Why is the BJP deflecting from real issues?"

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