Hardik Patel demanding ‘OBC reservation’ detained by police

Tens of thousands of protesters from Gujarat’s Patel community…

Led by Mr Hardik Patel, a feisty, upcoming community leader, the Patels are now demanding affirmative action and classification as Other Backward Classes (OBCs) so that they are entitled to quotas in state-run education centres and in government jobs.

The mega rally by Hardik was held in the city in support of the communitys demand for the status of Other Backward Class.

A large contingent of police stormed the GMDC ground here to disperse the crowd supporting Patel and three others who sat on a hunger strike after the massive rally, demanding that Chief Minister Anandiben Patel herself should come there and accept their memorandum.

“Our community members will start arriving at the venue from 8 am onwards to take part in the mass gathering at GMDC ground”.

Barring a few incidences of vandalism at shops and malls, the rally was largely peaceful. In a very interesting panel discussion with a Hindi news channel Hardik Patel says that the majority of farmers committing suicide are Patels.

“After that, we will take out our “Maha-Kranti Rally” to hand over memorandum to the district Collector”, Patel said during a press conference here.

In recent weeks, a 22-year-old activist, Hardik Patel, began tapping into this discontent by forming the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (Patidar Reservation Agitation Committee) and holding dozens of rallies calling for inclusion.

“I had to sell my land to educate my son, who could not get admission in medical college here”. The state’s chief minister, Anandiben Patel, has said “we can not make any changes” in the quota system, although her government was meeting with Patel community members in an effort to lower temperatures. “If no reservations, then no Lotus (BJP symbol) in 2017”, declared the businessman Patel, invoking the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel while terming Patidars as his descendants. He does not mind himself to be compared to the best known Patel – Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel – called the Loh Purush of India.

Many at the rally Tuesday voiced typical middle-class concerns over salaries, the cost of student tuition and the desire for better, more stable jobs. “This is our community’s fight, which we will fight on our own”, he added. The government subsequently declined to comment on the deadline demand put by Hardik Patel.

We have clearly conveyed them about what this government can do and what is beyond its capacity as far as the reservation issue goes.