Ahmedabad, April 19: Patidar leader from Gujarat, Hardik Patel, who recently joined the Congress, was slapped by an unidentified man during the Jan Akrosh Rally in Gujarat on Friday. The incident took place when a man, from the crowd, came up to the stage and slapped the Congress leader while he was addressing a rally in Gujarat's Surendra Nagar. According to a tweet by ANI, soon after the incident, Patel filed a complaint with police.

On Thursday, Patel's helicopter was denied permission by a farmer in Gujarat to land on his farm. In what is believed to be an embarrassment for Patel, a farmer who had earlier agreed to allow his farmland to be used as landing spot for his chopper, revoked the permission. Due to this, Patel had to extend his travel by about 2 hours, as he was forced to commute 100 km by road to reach the rally venue. Man, Who Slapped the Congress Leader, Says Hardik Patel Shuts Down Gujarat Whenever He Wants to, is He Hitler of Gujarat? 

Earlier this month on April 17, the Patidar leader who led the Patidar agitation in 2015 claimed that his community is happy with his decision of joining the Congress party. "There are a huge number of Patidars who like me and my leadership. Patidar community is happy with my decision of joining the Congress. I believe they will support me and will help in fighting this battle", he said. Hardik Patel Cannot Contest Lok Sabha Election 2019, Supreme Court Declines Urgent Hearing on His Conviction.

Watch Video:  Hardik Patel Slapped During Rally in Surendranagar

Earlier this month, Patel took a jibe at the BJP's 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign and said that the party was raising the issues of Kashmir and Pakistan as it had nothing to speak about its performance. He said the country's youth was angry with the BJP and it was time to send Prime Minister Narendra Modi back to Gujarat.

Hardik officially joined Congress on March 12 at a party rally in Ahmedabad, which was organised after the Congress Working Committee meeting. The 25-year-old leader was inducted into the party in the presence of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 19, 2019 11:52 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).