Ahmedabad: Firing a fresh salvo at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, his predecessor and veteran BJP leader, Keshubhai Patel, on Saturday alleged the entire state is "living in fear" under the present government.
A known detractor of Modi, Patel, who had been in political wilderness for four years, has become active and is of late attending different public gatherings in the run-up to state assembly elections due in December.
Patel was unceremoniously removed from the post of chief minister by BJP and was replaced by Modi in 2001.
"I had earlier said in a function of Patidar (Patel) community that my community is leaving under fear but today after reading newspapers I have come to the conclusion that entire Gujarat is living under fear," Patel said here addressing a gathering of Rohit community.
Patel, earlier in Surat and Sidsar temple town of Rajkot district, had charged his community members were living in fear.
In the run up to 2007 elections, Patel had alleged there was a "mini-emergency" like situation under Modi government.
However, after the landslide victory of Modi in the 2007 elections, Patel chose maintain a low profile. But in the election year, he has once again started making appearance in public meetings.
Today, he shared the dais with Gordhan Zadafia, former minister of state for Home in Modi government who later formed his own political outfit Maha-Gujarat Janta Party.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, May 12, 2012, 23:36