He raised his pitch post the “lathi charge” carried out by the police in spite of a peaceful gathering at the Maha Kranti rally in Ahmedabad today.
Advertisement
But Pradeep Patel, 56, a farmer, social worker and organizer, said it was a mistake to think of all Patels as affluent and not in need of government help. Patel warned the BJP if they want to see the lotus bloom in 2017 Assembly election, the government should heed their demands. He said he issued an ultimatum to the ruling Patel government to address their cause.
Holding that the community forms a major chunk, Hardik said, “We (Patel-farming community) are not in Gujarat only… We are fighting for our rights”, Mr Patel told the packed audience.
Clashes between Patel community members and local residents were also reported from Vadaj, Vastrapur, Nikol and Paldi areas when they allegedly tried to enforce a bandh called by the agitating outfit.
The Patel community led by its 21-year-old leader Hardik Patel made their way to the district collector’s office on Tuesday afternoon.
Hardik, who announced a 48-hour fast, insisting that the CM come down to GMDC ground to accept his memorandum, was picked up by a team of cops at 8 pm for violation of police commissioner’s notification.
Mr. Patel has become the face of the movement, which has emerged as a huge challenge to the State BJP government dominated by Patel community leaders including Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and party chief R.C. Faldu. Hardik’s popularity, in many ways, signals the re-assertion of Patidar’s political relevance as they did in mid-1980s to counter Gujarat’s former Congress chief minister Amarsinh Chaudhary’s grand strategy of aligning KHAM- Kshatriya, Harijan, Adivasi and Muslims. “Our fight is against the present system”, Patel said.
Unlike the affluent businessmen, this Patel is a mediocre BCom graduate who shot to fame through his Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS). “A giant variety of police personnel have been deployed at CTM and close to Rabari colony, Wonder Point and Jogeswari as Patel group members began throwing stones and vandalising outlets”, the police station officer at CTM space stated.
Advertisement
Patels comprise 20% of the population of Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He takes care to repeat that his movement is not against any community, only for getting reservation rights for the Patels of which at least two sub castes he says have been more discriminated against than others. “Chandrababu Naidu is ours”, he said.
