Hardik Patel, Patidar quota agitation leader, on Wednesday submitted his resignation as the Gujarat Congress working president and primary member, months ahead of the state’s election. 

In a scathing letter to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Patel slammed the party’s leadership. He claimed that the party “only played to the role of a roadblock” and “was “merely reduced to opposing everything”. 

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He said that whenever he raised any issue related to Gujarat, “some senior Congress leaders were busy checking messages on their mobile phones” and some were “enjoying abroad” when the party and the country needed them. Patel, however, did not take any name. 

Hardik Patel joined the Congress in 2019.  The 28-year-old had not attend the three-day brainstorming session of the party’s top brass in Udaipur. 

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“Today, I courageously resign from the post of Congress Party and primary membership of the party. I am sure that my decision will be welcomed by all my colleagues and the people of Gujarat. I believe that after this step of mine, I will be able to work really positively for Gujarat in future,” he said in a tweet. 

Here are the highlights of Hardik Patel’s letter:

1) Hardik Patel said that the Congress has  been continuously working against the interests of the country and society. He further added that the party’s central and state leadership has been reduced to opposing everything over the last three years.

2) The Patidar leader said that his party had played a roadblock on issues like building the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and implementation of GST.

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“When it came to issues related to India, Gujarat and my Patidar community – Congress’s only stand was to oppose whatever Govt. of India led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji did! Congress today has been rejected in almost every state of India because the party and its leadership have not been able to present a basic roadmap to the people.”

3) Hardik Patel added that the Congress has been rejected in almost every state because it has failed to provide a roadmap to the people.

4) He made a leaders were “enjoying abroad” remark targetting Rahul Gandhi. Patel said that the Congress needs strong leadership. 

5) Patl said that the Congress’ senior leadership was “more engrossed on what messages they had received on their mobile” rather than hearing about issues Gujarat faces. 

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 “Big leaders of Congress in Gujarat are far away from issues of Gujarat but are more focussed on ensuring that Chicken Sandwich for leaders who have come from Delhi is delivered on time!”

6) “Senior leaders behave in a way like they hate Gujarat and Gujaratis. How in the world can the Congress then expect that people of Gujarat will see them as an alternative to lead our state?”

7) Hardik Patel accused the Congress of insulting Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. 

“Gujaratis can never forget how the Congress party has insulted Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. I strongly believe that Congress has broken the faith youth had in the party for many years and that is why today no youngster is willing to be even seen as our worker or voter.”

8) Patel said that the Congress has not only bstained from doing anything beneficial for the people of Gujarat but also ridiculed him and his community as he tried to do something good.

“Even when people like me wanted to do something good for the state, all I and my community faced was ridicule and contempt.”

9) Hardik Patel said that when he joined Congress, he was unaware that the “hearts and minds of leadership of the Congress are filled with such hatred towards our country.”

10) He concluded the letter, saying that after the resignation “I will truly be able to work positively for the people of our state. am indebted to the people of Gujarat for their love and affection, and I will continue to strive in the interest of our country.”