Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani was accorded two armed police personnel for his protection on Sunday, which he said was a government ploy to keep a track of his activities. However, Gujarat police said the deployment was done considering the present political dynamics of the state and the ‘threat level’ against Mevani.

Addressing a conclave – Young Thinkers’ Meet – at Pritamnagar Akhado in Ellisbridge area on Sunday, Mevani said he had got police protection without even asking for it. “Today, I have got a commando with a machine gun, though I did not ask for it. When I asked (the policeman) if it was for surveillance, he said yes sir,” Mevani said, adding, “This speaks a lot of the current situation (in the state).”

Mevani also lashed out at the Vijay Rupani-led state government and said he was ready to reach an “ideological comprise” to defeat the “daitya BJP (devil – BJP)”. The Dalit leader also said he did not mind joining hands with Patidar agitation leader Hardik Patel or Alpesh Thakor (OBC leader who recently joined Congress) to defeat the BJP despite differences with their communities.