Here's Jignesh Mevani's first response after Hardik Patel was slapped during a Congress rally in Gujarat's Surendranagar

Hours after Patidar activist and Congress leader Hardik Patel was 'slapped' by a man on the stage while he was addressing a rally in Gujarat, Jinesh Mewani took to Twitter and lashed out at the BJP-led state government over lack of security given Patel and him.

Stating that despite persistent threats, Hardik Patel's security was not increased but taken away, Jignesh Mewani alleged that he too had been attacked several times and received multiple threats. Mewani went on to claim that while the Gujarat government did not increase his security in the state, it also failed to provide him security outside the state as well. 

The shocking incident took place when the Patidar leader was addressing the rally from on top of a stage, with other leaders seated behind him. As Hardik Patel thanked the audience for coming to his rally, a man named Tarun Gajjar, walked up to him from his right with a paper in his hand, and attacked him before he had a chance to move away.

As per Hardik Patel's team, the attacker had waited overnight at the rally venue in an effort to blend in, and as a result, the security didn't think to stop him as he made his way to the stage.

Watch the video here.

Meanwhile, Hardik Patel has registered a formal police complaint about the physical attack against him in Surendranagar, Gujarat.

READ: Hardik Patel Lodges Police Complaint After Being Slapped During A Rally, Alleges BJP Hand In The Attack

The incident comes just weeks after a video of Patel being confronted by citizens over his choice of joining Congress surfaced. In the video, a group of people can be seen questioning him over his political decision and support to the 'Tukde Tukde gang'.