RAJKOT/AHMEDABAD: The Kshatriya community in Gujarat intensified protests against Union minister and BJP‘s Rajkot Lok Sabha seat candidate Parshottam Rupala for his recent controversial comments, announcing Saturday that they would field 400 candidates against him in the upcoming elections.
This was part of a drive named “Operation Rupala” that core committees of various Kshatriya associations announced after a meeting in Rajkot.
“This is a battle for our honour. We have decided to organise a rally in all districts,” said Karansinh Chavda, a community leader. Ramjubha Jadeja, another leader, said: “This (Rupala’s remarks) shows degradation of morals in public life. Authorities shouldn’t provoke our members and we will not be responsible for the law and order situation.”
The 69-year-old BJP veteran has earned the wrath of the community, which belongs to the ruling-class caste, for his comments that the “maharajas” acquiesced to the persecution by foreign rulers and the British and even married off their daughters to oppressors.
Tensions escalated Saturday as Kshatriya community members took to the streets in Ahmedabad against Rupala, while five women who had threatened johar (self-immolation) were placed under house arrest before they could reach BJP’s headquarters in Gandhinagar. Members of the community gathered at the bungalows where the women were staying, prompting police and crime branch teams to intervene.
When Karni Sena’s national president Mahipalsinh Makrana and others arrived, the crowd grew larger, leading to a police lathi charge. Makrana and his associate Virbhadra Singh were detained and taken to Rajasthan. “We came to meet our sisters to convince them not to do johar as their brothers are still alive,” said Makrana, who was briefly allowed to meet the women.
This was part of a drive named “Operation Rupala” that core committees of various Kshatriya associations announced after a meeting in Rajkot.
“This is a battle for our honour. We have decided to organise a rally in all districts,” said Karansinh Chavda, a community leader. Ramjubha Jadeja, another leader, said: “This (Rupala’s remarks) shows degradation of morals in public life. Authorities shouldn’t provoke our members and we will not be responsible for the law and order situation.”
The 69-year-old BJP veteran has earned the wrath of the community, which belongs to the ruling-class caste, for his comments that the “maharajas” acquiesced to the persecution by foreign rulers and the British and even married off their daughters to oppressors.
Tensions escalated Saturday as Kshatriya community members took to the streets in Ahmedabad against Rupala, while five women who had threatened johar (self-immolation) were placed under house arrest before they could reach BJP’s headquarters in Gandhinagar. Members of the community gathered at the bungalows where the women were staying, prompting police and crime branch teams to intervene.
When Karni Sena’s national president Mahipalsinh Makrana and others arrived, the crowd grew larger, leading to a police lathi charge. Makrana and his associate Virbhadra Singh were detained and taken to Rajasthan. “We came to meet our sisters to convince them not to do johar as their brothers are still alive,” said Makrana, who was briefly allowed to meet the women.