Keshubhai backs out of attending anti-Modi conference

Surat, June 12 (UNI) Former Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, who was to attend a massive show of strength against his successor Narendra Modi in this town of diamond and textiles today, will not be able to attend the Patidar community rally scheduled to be held this evening.

Mr Patel will not be able to attend the Conference as he felt uneasiness at the Los Angelis airport in the United States.

''Notwithstanding the doctor's advice, Mr Patel insisted on continuing his journey but the airlines refused to take him onboard in such condition,'' an organiser of Patidar Rajasvi Ratan Samman Samaroh told newspersons.

Now Mr Bharat Patel, son of the former CM, will receive the award, the organiser said.

The Conference to be inaugurated by VHP leader Praveen Bhai Togadia this evening is being seen as flexing of muscles by the Patel community which feels ignored by the Modi regime which has been in power for over 2063 days giving him the distinction of longest serving Chief Minister of Gujarat surpassing the record of the Late Hitendra Desai.

Earlier in the day, BJP dissidents had alleged that the party leadership was exerting all pressure to ensure that the Conference did not succeed.

Several BJP MPs and sitting MLAs are attending the meeting which is being seen as a show of strength against Mr Modi. Mr Patel's absence will certainly deflate the morale of the organisers of Patidar or Patel community rally.

UNI