Video of Guj Cong MLA flagellating himself goes viral

A video of senior Congress MLA Somabhai Patel, in which he is seen flagellating himself, today went viral on social media with the 77-year-old leader claiming that it was part of a community ritual.

Patel, who belongs to the Koli community, can be seen in the video whipping himself with metal chains tied to a handle in what appears to be a religious function with devotional music playing in the background.

"This is like playing garba during Navratri. It is an age old tradition in my community. Though it appears that I am hitting myself hard, I was not hurt because I was doing it cautiously. This act is performed to show our respect and devotion to the deity. It is not done to harm oneself" said Patel.

Patel is the sitting MLA from Limbdi in Surendranagar district. He was earlier Lok Sabha Member of Parliament from Surendranagar seat between 2009 and 2014.