Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani wants Ahmed Patel’s resignation

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani held a press conference late on Friday night, demanding the resignation of Ahmed Patel, Rajya Sabha member and political advisor to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, for his association with the Ankleshwar-based Sardar Patel Hospital and Heart Institute, where one of the two alleged IS operatives used to work as a lab technician.“Ahmed Patel and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi owe an explanation to the people of this country,” said Rupani. “Ahmedbhai was involved in running of the hospital.He resigned as trustee in 2014, but continued to play an active role in the functioning of the hospital. It was at his insistence in October 2016 that Pranab Mukherjee — the President at the time — had come for the hospital’s inauguration.”One of the two alleged IS operatives, Mohammed Kasim Stimberwala, arrested by the Gujarat ATS on October 25 — from Ankleshwar railway station — worked at the Sardar Patel Hospital as an echo-technician.“Ahmed Patel should explain who employed the accused and why no background checks were done,” Rupani said. “The IS terrorists had planned to attack some Hindu religious leaders, religious places, and the 83-year-old Jewish Synagogue in Khamasa in Ahmedabad. The terrorist had their passports and visas ready, to escape after the strikes.”Rupani said that Stimberwala’s resignation was accepted just “two days prior to his arrest, making the matter even more suspicious.”Patel took to Twitter to counter the BJP’s allegations, which he termed as baseless. “We request that matters of national security not be politicized keeping elections in mind. Let’s not divide peace-loving Gujaratis while fighting terrorism,” Ahmed Patel tweeted.“My party and I appreciate the ATS’s effort to nab the two terrorists. I demand strict and speedy action against them.” Ahmed Patel told TOI that he had resigned as trustee from the hospital long ago and he could not have been involved in the alleged terror operative’s recruitment. “The BJP resorts to such gimmicks when they sense defeat in elections. People of Gujarat understand the truth and will soon teach the BJP a lesson,” Ahmed said. A release issued by Jayesh Patel, trustee of Sardar Patel Hospital and Heart Institute, said: “The echo-technician arrested on charges of terror was hired as per process. He resigned on October 4 and was relieved on October 24. The hospital was not aware of personal activities of the technician and condemns such activities.” It further stated: “Ahmed Patel and his family are not associated with the hospital and yet have contributed immensely for the development of this hospital. Certain allegations are being levelled against Patel which are baseless and we condemn the same.”Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki said, “It is shameful that the BJP is trying to politicize a national security issue for political benefit. Allegations on Ahmedbhai show the BJP’s frustration after they failed to defeat him in Rajya Sabha elections.”