Hardik Patel announces ‘lollipop movement’ against Gujarat govt’s package for

PAAS supporters pelted stones at BJP workers gathered to celebrate the new EWS package in Surat’s Varachha locality, prompting police to use teargas shells to disperse the mob.

Yesterday, Hardik’s lawyer BM Mangukia had given an undertaking before a division bench of justice MR Shah and justice KJ Thaker on behalf of his client that no agitation or programme call will be given by the leader until the next hearing on September 29.

The judge questioned the veracity of his charges of abduction and being kept in illegal custody and remarked, “If you tell one lie, you will have to tell a hundred lies”. The court thereafter denied hardik any relief against police action stating “let law take it’s own course”.

“Prima facie it appears that it is required (by Hardik) to substantiate the allegations (made by him that he was abducted)”.

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has announced a special scheme with substantial fee waiver for students across communities. Only those who get 90 percentile marks in their Class XII board exam would be eligible if their yearly family income did not exceed Rs 4.5 lakh.

The package is seen as a government move to blunt the Patidar agitation which has acquired EBC hues with the passage of time.

Mangukia had filed the petition late on Tuesday on behalf of two leaders of Hardik’s Patel Anamat Andolan Samiti, demanding that police produce the PAAS founder who had disappeared following a crackdown after a rally in Aravalli district.

A senior minister in the government said on condition of anonymity that Chief Minister Anandiben Patel would make the announcement during a function here tomorrow.

Noting that pro-quota agitators complained about meritorious students opting for self-financing colleges AND PAY HIGHER FEES AS A RESULT OF RESERVATIONS for OBCs, SCs and STs, THE Chief Minister said: “Moving forward, 75 per cent of the seats in self-financing institutions will be reserved for meritorious students”. Otherwise, if something untoward happens, Modi will have to bear the consequences”, the Sena said in its mouthpiece ‘Saamana.’ “If talks are held with Hardik Patel in a congenial environment, a solution can be sought (over the reservation issue).