Gujarat deputy Chief minister Nitin Patel has come to the defence of CM Vijay Rupani after the Congress senior leader Shaktisinh Gohil challenged to file a defamation suit against him. Patel, while talking to media persons in Gandhinagar on Wednesday said that CM did not take the name of Gohil during his press conference in Uttar Pradesh. A day before, Gohil addressed a press conference in Ahmedabad and had said that he would file a defamation suit against Gujarat CM Rupani as he(CM) dragged his(Gohil's) name and held him responsible for the attack on anti-north Indian community in Gujarat. He had sought an apology from CM if he did not wish litigation. Patel said, "Gohil's allegations are baseless and CM never took the name of any Congress leader in his press conference. Gohil is doing this to get the fame as there is a rivalry among Congress leader to get publicity on any fickle issue." "Speech of chief minister at any place are kept on record and Gohil should refer that speech again of CM. He should not take it personally as CM referred to Co-in charge of Bihar and not in charge. It is widely known that Alpesh Thakor is the co-in charge of Congress in Bihar and he provoked people for anti-north Indian attacks in Gujarat through his hate speech," Patel said. Nitin Patel also referred this with the issue of inauguration of the Statue of Unity in Gujarat at the hand of PM to happen on October 31. "When Sardar Patel made efforts to unite India after independence, some of the Congress leaders are trying to create a divide. Gohil should have reprimanded Thakor for his hate speech in place of challenging CM by defamation suit," Patel added.

Stay updated with all the Ahmedabad Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.