SURAT: A sea of people poured on to the streets of Bharuch on Sunday, to accord a hero’s welcome to Bhavesh Patel, the convict in the 2007 Ajmer Dargah blast case, in which three persons were killed. The welcome rally was organised jointly by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP, after Patel was released on bail by the Rajasthan high court last week.In video footage (a copy of which is with TOI) of the rally, Patel is seen dressed in saffron robes and turban and is being carried by his supporters all the way from the Swaminarayan temple to his residence at Hathikhana Bazaar in Bharuch town on Sunday. Patel is seen waving to the public or bowing with hands joined together and people along the way are seen showering him with flower petals. Viral Desai, spokesperson of VHP for south Gujarat, said, “The welcome of Bhavesh Patel was organised by the Hindu Samaj. Since it was the Janmasthami mela at Swaminarayan temple, there was a massive presence of devotees, who later joined us in welcoming Patel.”On whether Bhavesh Patel is with the RSS or VHP, Desai said, “Bhavesh Patel has taken sanyas, and is no more associated with the VHP or RSS. Patel lives at Hathikhana Bazaar, which is barely 500m from the Swaminarayan Temple, where the Janmasthami fair was going on. All the people of Bharuch know about Bhavesh Patel”

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