Hardik faces BJP jibes over not getting SC relief in riot case

The BJP took potshots at Gujarat Congress leader Hardik Patel after the Supreme Court Tuesday declined urgent hearing to his plea in a riot case, denting his chances of contesting the Lok Sabha elections.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani taunted Patel, saying the SC order has come as a relief for the latter "in a true sense," else he should have "got exposed" in the electoral contest against the BJP.

The Congress hit back at the BJP, saying the ruling party was scared of Patel.

The apex court refused to accord urgent hearing to Patel's plea challenging the Gujarat High Court's order which rejected his plea to stay his conviction in the 2015 Vispur rioting case.

Patel (25) had Monday moved the apex court challenging the March 29 order of the HC which is coming in the way of his contesting the Lok Sabha elections.

"Hardik Patel had expressed his desire to contest from Jamnagar. But the court has now given him relief in a true sense else he would have got exposed (by losing the election had he contested)," Rupani told reporters.

Patel also came under attack from Gujarat BJP president Jitu Vaghani, who said the ruling party was ready to take him on in the poll ring.

Vaghani said he still hoped the SC would give him a chance to contest the upcoming elections.

"If you have courage, fight with us in Jamnagar, or anywhere else in Gujarat... I still hope and pray to God that Supreme Court gives him permission to contest elections.

"We are ready for you," Vaghani said, addressing a gathering in Jamnagar.

The Gujarat Congress said the SC has not yet heard the case and hoped the order, whenever delivered, will go in favour of Patel, who spearheaded the Patidar quota agitation before joining the main opposition party last month.

Party spokesperson Manish Doshi said even if Patel does not get a chance to contest the election, he will continue to address rallies and "expose BJP".

"We believe the order of the Supreme Court will come in favour of Hardik. The BJP is clearly scared of the young Patidar leader which is why it has opposed his plea so vehemently so that he does not get a chance to contest the election," Doshi said.

"Even if Hardik does not get a chance to contest the election this time, he will continue to address rallies for Congress across the state and will expose BJP government over the issues of farmers and youth not getting jobs," he said.

Patel had started preparations to contest from Jamnagar on a Congress ticket after joining the party on March 12 and the last date for filing of nominations is April 4.

The Sessions Court at Visnagar in Mehsana district sentenced Patel to two years' imprisonment last July for rioting and arson in Visnagar town in 2015 during the Patidar quota stir.

The HC in August 2018 suspended the sentence but not the conviction.

Under the Election Law -- Representation of the People Act and a related Supreme Court ruling -- a convict facing a jail term of two years or more cannot stand for election unless the conviction is stayed.