The individual who slapped Congress leader Hardik Patel on Friday morning (19 April) has claimed that he wanted to teach him (Hardik Patel) a lesson for causing hardship to people during the Patidar agitation.

The attacker has been identified as Tarun Gajjar. Soon after slapping Hardik Patel, he was beaten black and blue by the Congress leaders’ supporters and had to be taken to the hospital for treatment.

While speaking to media-persons during his treatment, Gajjar said that he and his family faced many hardships during the Hardik Patel led Patidar reservation agitation.

His wife was reportedly pregnant at that time and was undergoing treatment at that time and had to face hardships due to the Bandh. He added that in another instance he had gone out to get medicine for his child and was faced with closed shops due to a strike called by Hardik Patel.

Gajjar thus added that he had then vowed to hit Hardik Patel in order to teach him a lesson.

“He shuts down the roads, he shuts down Gujarat whenever he wants to, What is he? Gujarat's Hitler?”, Gajjar was quoted as asking.