``The GCCI has all along stayed away from politics and will continue to do so in the future too,'' Patel clarified in a release on Tuesday. He said the incident had tarnished the image of the body. ``Well-wishers of GCCI have expressed serious concern and grief over the incident,'' Patel said.

He said his predecessors Girish Dani and Utkarsh Shah had voluntarily and unconditionally resigned from the the GCCI executive committee with a view to remove the impression that the organisation had become a playground for political parties. Patel praised former GCCI president Dani for his role in modernising the Chamber as well as his sustained efforts in collecting funds for the Kandla Port Trust. He also lauded the role of Utkarsh Shah in abolition of octroi.