Ahmedabad: Hardik Patel distances himself from Congress

Two months after his outfit Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) publically supported the Congress for Gujarat’s local body elections, firebrand Patidar leader Hardik Patel has now made a U-turn, distancing himself from the opposition party.

Hardik and his five aides — all currently lodged in a jail under the charges of sedition — have made it clear that they would not like to be associated with any political party even though new core members of PAAS have decided to continue the support to the Congress.

“When I met Hardik in Surat jail last week, he told me not to join the Congress’ Akrosh Daman rally. His five aides have also asked their families to stay away from the rally,” Hardik’s father Bharatbhai Patel told the Hindustan Times.

Patel quoted his son as saying that the OBC agitation is a non-political movement.