In a move to show support, members of the Ahir community have backed disqualified Congress MLA Bhaga Barad and threatened to vote against BJP government if the it fails to withdraw the disqualification. In a meeting held at Veraval, members of Ahir community from Rajkot, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Morbi, Dwarka, Kutch, Patan, Bhavnagar and other districts decided that if the government does not withdraw its order of disqualifying Barad, convicted by a court in an illegal mining case, then the community will show its strength in upcoming Lok Sabha elections by voting against the party. Barad, who belongs to the OBC community alleged the government has adopted a threat strategy to make Congress MLAs switch sides. Barad, who represented Talala seat in Gir Somnath district, was disqualified by the legislative assembly speaker, days after he was convicted by a court in an illegal mining case, which landed him a jail term for two years and nine months. His conviction was later stayed by upper court, which was set aside by the Gujarat High Court recently. Barad has challenged his disqualification before the HC. Addressing a gathering of the Ahir community at Veraval, Barad said the BJP had adopted a strategy to threaten Congress MLAs to make them join the BJP. “They say, we will finish you if you do not join us, and will bathe you in milk if you do,” he said. Barad alleged that the BJP government targetted him by appointing a special public prosecutor in court. Congress MLAs from Ahir community, Vikram Madam and Amrish Der also joined Barad in his show of strength. He said, “If I do not get justice from high court, I will approach Supreme court.” Barad reiterated that the speaker had no right to disqualify him. “Only people from my community have the right to punish me if I have done anything wrong,” he said, adding that the government conspired to remove him as an MLA. The Congress has projected Barad’s disqualification, as the BJP’s attempt to weaken the Ahir community. (With inputs from PTI) IN BRIEF Barad, who belongs to the OBC community alleged the government has adopted a threat strategy to make Congress MLAs switch sides. Barad, represented Talala seat in Gir Somnath district.

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