A New Delhi-based lawyer has filed a complaint with the National Commission for Women (NCW) to investigate recently circulated CDs that allegedly feature Patidar activist Hardik Patel.
Some video clips of Hardik, allegedly in the company of a girl and two other men, had gone viral about a fortnight ago. A person bearing a close resemblance to Hardik is seen in compromising positions in the clips.
In his complaint to the NCW, lawyer Gaurav Gulati said that there was a need to look into who prepared the clips and circulated them. According to him, there was also a need to know who the 'victimised girl' was. He urged the NCW to issue notices to Hardik and one Ashwin Patel.
Ashwin, according to him, had begun the agitation before Hardik took over but later they parted ways. Gulati quoted Ashwin as claiming that Hardik had exploited girls in the name of distributing tickets.
Hardik had rejected the clips, saying these were 'bogus' and alleged that this was the handiwork of the ruling BJP. The BJP on the other hand said that it was related to the internal tussles between Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) members. The BJP alleged that differences arose over distribution of money given to PAAS by the Congress.
The viral clips have evoked mixed reactions from the public. While dalit youth leader Jignesh Mevani and the Congress stood behind Hardik and said it was an attempt to intrude into someone's personal life, BJP supporters burnt Hardik's effigy, saying he had tarnished the image of Patidars.
