Gujarat Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor's brinkmanship backfires

AHMEDABAD: Alpesh Thakor, Gujarat Congress MLA from Radhanpur, stoked the fire of parochialism when he exhorted the Thakor community to agitate for justice for the 14-month-old girl who was allegedly raped in Himmatnagar on September 28.


A video of Thakor making a provocative speech against migrants, in an apparent bid to firm up his position within the community, has gone viral on social media.






But as the fire he stoked seemed to get out of control, Alpesh did a volte-face and appealed for peace.

"Only one incident happened somewhere in Gujarat and I condemn it. If I've threatened anyone, I'll go to jail myself. Gujarat belongs to everyone. It is as much yours as it is mine," Alpesh told reporters on Tuesday.

Eight members of Gujarat Kshatriya Thakor Sena, including a Congress taluka panchayat member from Gandhinagar, Mahotji Thakor, were booked by Gandhinagar police. Mahotji Thakor had on Sunday night allegedly threatened migrants at Uvarsad village in Gandhinagar to leave the state.