Parshottam Rupala, the BJP candidate from Rajkot Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat, has once again apologized to the community. Addressing an election rally in Jasdan, Rupala said, 'The mistake was mine and I have publicly apologized. There was no ill intent. I sought forgiveness from the Kshatriya community and they responded. But why oppose PM Narendra Modi?'
Rupala told the Kshatriya community, 'Remember your contributions to the nation and remember your significant contribution to BJP's development. When PM Modi, who works 18 hours a day, thinks of nothing but the country and considers 1.4 billion citizens his family, and many Kshatriyas have been with him on this development journey, why the opposition because of my mistake? I admit my fault, but it does not seem right to thus stand the Kshatriya community against PM Modi. Please reconsider any anger shown against the PM.'
Attempts at damage control fail to quell discontent
Despite BJP's earnest efforts at damage control, anger within the Kshatriya community in states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan shows no sign of abating. In these states, there have been regular protests by the community against BJP in the past few weeks. It's reported that BJP's core voter base of Rajputs stayed away from the polling stations in the first two phases. Despite continuous protests, Parshottam Rupala did not withdraw his nomination. Following that, in Gujarat, the Kshatriya community has been protesting against all BJP candidates, rallying with saffron flags.
Kshatriya men are demonstrating and chanting slogans at BJP events. Kshatriya women are fasting in protest against Rupala. Rupala appealed during the meeting, 'I request all of you leaders to try to build a new bridge of understanding with leaders of the Kshatriya community. I am not appealing because of the elections. It's not about winning or losing. This is about touching our social fabric. I urge the Kshatriya community to keep this issue away from politics.'
Why is the Kshatriya community upset with Parshottam Rupala?
Parshatam Rupala belongs to the Patidar community. After alleged comments against former Kshatriya rulers during British rule, the community has been protesting against him. On social media, a video went viral on March 23, showing Rupala speaking at a Dalit event in Rajkot. In the video, he's heard saying, 'The British ruled over us... they left no stone unturned in torturing us. Even the kings submitted. They (the kings) broke bread with them (the British) and married their daughters to them. But our Dalit community neither changed their religion nor established friendly ties with the British, despite facing the most atrocities.' This statement triggered intense anger among Kshatriya organizations.
'Kshatriya should forgive Rupala with a big heart'
The Kshatriya community demands that 69-year-old Rupala either voluntarily withdraw from the Lok Sabha elections or BJP cancel his ticket. But BJP has maintained his candidacy. In response, the Kshatriyas began their protest against Rupala on April 24. Community leaders organized Kshatriya conventions in Mehsana, Anand, Surat, and Jamnagar. To placate the community's ire, the Gujarat BJP president CR Patil hosted a meeting with community leaders in the presence of CM Bhupendra Patel at his Gandhinagar home. He said, 'The Kshatriya community has always been associated with BJP. We met with the heads of 90 Kshatriya consolidation committees on April 3 and persuaded them. Parshottam Rupala has apologized to the Kshatriya society by joining his hands. Let the Kshatriya community forgive Rupala with a big heart.'
