AGENCIES, Ahmedabad: Gujarat Congress leader Hardik Patel’s wife Kinjal in Ahmedabad on Monday claimed her husband was untraceable since his release from jail on January 24. He was arrested on January 18.
Patel got bail in two cases on January 24. However, a trial court issued a non-bailable warrant on February 7 after he once again failed to appear for a hearing.
Kinjal said he had not made any contact with the family though he had tweeted about his release. “Has been released from detention of dictatorship. But what’s my fault,” he had tweeted On January 24.
Charging the “government machinery” for Patel’s disappearance, Kinjal said the family was being harassed by the government.
“My husband was arrested and sent to jail in many cases. On several occasions, as soon as he came out of jail, he was rearrested and put behind the bars in some other case. Don’t you think this is harassment,” Kinjal said.
Fearing for her husband’s life, Kinjal claimed the police often visited her house at odd hours.
Responding to her allegations, Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) Shivanand Jha told IANS: “Is this a topic to talk on? I don’t think he (Hardik Patel) deserves a comment. He is not worth it.”
However, Kinjal’s claims have created a ripple and are being talked about in the police and the political circles — from Gujarat to Delhi. The Ahmedabad Police have been maintaining a studied silence on her allegations.
Patel had earlier tweeted “that he will not bow down” apparently referring to the BJP.
The Congress has said the Gujarat Police were misusing their power and had charged the Patidar leader in several cases.
Meanwhile, the Patidar Anamat Andolan sources said they were unable to establish any contact with Patel. “Nobody knows if he has gone underground or what,” said a leader.
The meeting of Patidar leaders was organised to put pressure on the state government to withdraw around 1,500 cases lodged against people who took part in the quota agitation in 2015 and before the 2017 Gujarat Assembly polls.
In all, Patel faces over 20 cases registered against him across Gujarat after he led the Patidar quota stir in 2015.
