Surendranagar, April 19: Indian National Congress and Patidar leader Hardik Patel after the attack on him during a rally in Gujarat's Surendranagar said that the Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to attack him. He compared the attack with the murder of former Home Minister of Gujarat Haren Pandya. He said that the man who attacked him has links with the saffron party. Hardik Patel Slapped at Jan Akrosh Rally in Gujarat While Campaigning for Lok Sabha Elections 2019; Watch Video.

According to news agency ANI, Hardik Patel, on being slapped during a rally in Surendranagar said, "BJP is trying to attack and kill me the same way Haren Pandya was murdered and fake encounters were done. Man who slapped me is connected to BJP leaders, you can see it on his Facebook profile". Hardik Patel Shuts Down Gujarat Whenever He Wants to, Is He Hitler, Asks Man Who Slapped the Congress Leader.

Tweet by ANI:

Patel, who recently joined the grand old party, was slapped by a man while he was addressing a rally. He was delivering a speech in Gujarat when a man walked up to the stage and slapped him. A video of the incident was also shared by ANI. The attacker was arrested after a police complaint was filed.

Watch Video:  Hardik Patel Slapped During Rally in Surendranagar

The attacker, identified as Tarun Gajjar, later revealed the reason for his attack. Gajjar said that 2015 Patidar agitation affected his pregnant wife and family. "My wife was pregnant when Patidar agitation happened, she was undergoing treatment at a hospital, I had faced problems then, I had decided then, I'll hit this man," he said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 19, 2019 09:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).