SRINAGAR: Hitesh Pandya, an additional public relations officer in the Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office, resigned on Friday evening after serving for nearly 22 years. The resignation was due to the links between his son, a businessman associated with the BJP, and “conman” Kiran Patel, who is currently in custody in J&K for impersonating an official from the Prime Minister’s Office. Pandya had served five chief ministers, including Keshubhai Patel, Narendra Modi, Anandiben Patel, Vijay Rupani, and Bhupendra Patel.

As per Hitesh Pandya’s statement, The Indian Express reported, “I have tendered my resignation to the Chief Minister (Bhupendra Patel). Nobody asked me to resign. I felt I should resign. I will wind up my pending work by March 31 and be relieved from the office.”

Hours before resigning, Hitesh Pandya confirmed to the newspaper The Indian Express that his son, Amit, had visited J&K with Kiran Patel “for business purpose” with his approval. Amit, along with another individual, Jay Sitapara, were present when Patel was arrested earlier this month. Both Amit and Sitapara have been summoned by the J&K police for questioning.

According to Pandya, his son is innocent and a witness in the case. He also mentioned that Amit deals in home security appliances and is associated with the BJP, having served as the party’s social media cell convener in North Zone till January 2023.

While denying any knowledge of Kiran Patel’s links to the CMO, Pandya admitted that Patel was affiliated with a private organization called Nation First Foundation (NFF), which Pandya had established in 2011.

“I founded the organization in 2011 to promote Modi saheb’s ideologies. Our work was solely focused on serving the nation. We conducted a Bharat Jago Abhiyan to create awareness among people about the BJP government’s initiatives and accomplishments… Kiran Patel joined the organization through Amit’s connection with him,” said Pandya as per The Indian Express.

When asked specifically about Amit’s connection with Kiran Patel, Pandya stated, “They were both employed at a publicity company in 2004. I knew Kiran as Amit’s friend. However, I came to the realization in 2011 that he was not someone we should associate ourselves with. Therefore, I relieved him and all the individuals associated with him from NFF. I found his business practices and billing to be improper… Kiran Patel then went on to establish his own organization.”

“Why would you break the relationship? He was keeping him away without snapping the relationship,” said Pandya when asked why he didn’t warn his son about Kiran Patel. However, their contact increased after Amit’s “rare heart condition” in September last year. “After Kiran’s arrest, Amit and Jay were kept in a hotel and their statements recorded. Then, they were let go and told that they will have to come whenever called. His statement was recorded as a witness,” he explained.

Pandya also mentioned that he informed the Chief Minister and other relevant authorities about the case as soon as he found out about it from Amit.

Pandya has been associated with the Gujarat CMO for over two decades, joining in 2001 as an assistant PRO. Before that, he worked at Life Corporation of India and the Rajkot daily “Phulchhab”.

 

 

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