Though it was claimed as a non-political event, Khodaldham foundation stone-laying ceremony at Kagvad village on Saturday gave the sidelined BJP stalwart and former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel an ideal platform to hit out at his detractors in the party.
Speaking at the event, the 83-year-old Leuva Patel leader fumed, "Mahatma Gandhi had said that if someone slaps you on one side of your face, turn the other one to him. But I am saying that if anybody slaps on your one cheek without your fault, he should be slapped back on both cheeks (aapani bhool na hoy ane jo koi aapanane tamacho mare to aapane tene be thappad maaravi joiye.)".
Keshubhai Patel's speech was loaded with political connotation even as no other political leader was invited to speak from the dais.
Patel urged the community to be ambitious, and ensure that no one infringes upon their rights. He said, "If anybody tries to obstruct our march, youth of community would remove those people from the way.
He thundered, "You work or let us work, you do or move aside." He said that community needs to stand united to face challenges.
He added, "If our community is awake, we can demand our rights and the injustice which are being meted out to us can be removed. Presently, there is injustice. If the community starts demanding its rights, no one can deny it."
