OBC quota for Patels: Rift comes in open between agitating leaders

Rift between two major groups of the Patel community seeking reservation came in open on Tuesday with Sardar Patel Group (SPG), led by Lalji Patel, distancing itself from the decision of hunger strike by Hardik Patel, who is spearheading the agitation. SPG is the biggest Patel community social group in the state which had earlier supported 22-year-old Hardik's 'Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti' for organising today's mega rally in support of their demand of inclusion of their community in OBC category for reservation.

Hardik had earlier said on Tuesday that he will sit on a hunger strike after the rally at the venue till the Chief Minister (Anandiben Patel) does not come to take a memorandum from them.

"Hardik's decision of sitting on hunger strike until the chief minister comes and takes memorandum from him is his individual decision, which is not supported by others," Lalji Patel, leader of Sardar Patel Group, told reporters. When asked if his group is ready for talks with the government, Patel said, "We are always ready for it and we will go if the government will invite us." Hardik had earlier said that Patels will not hold any talks with the government.

Today's rally was marked by the young leader's speech whereas Lalji did not address the large gathering. When asked why he was not allowed to speak at the rally, Lalji said, "the programme was planned by Hardik and his team and I don't want to make any comment on this." Another leader of SPG, Vinod Patel, termed Hardik's decision to sit on hunger strike as "kiddish" and said his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chief Minister were "improper". Patel said they will make representations before the state OBC Commission over the issue while Hardik in the rally had said the decision of hunger strike was taken unanimously by the community and that he would stick to it.

Meanwhile, Hardik said that he has support of people who want to go with the hunger strike. "Some people (referring to Lalji Patel), who are separately doing press conference, must know that lakhs of people here (at GMDC ground) told us to sit on hunger strike until our demand is fulfilled and until the chief minister comes and takes our memorandum of demands," he said.