In a much needed breather to the ruling BJP, which is facing rage of powerful Patidar community over the issue of reservation, more than 50 conveners of the pro-quota organisations Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and Sardar Patel Group (SPG) decided to extend their support to the saffron party.
The conveners of Patidar organisations not only joined the saffron party but also dubbed the leaders of PAAS and SPG who are spearheading pro-quota stir for reservation to Patidars under OBC category in Government jobs and education as “Congress agents”.
Around 30 conveners of SPG from North Gujarat also met the Chief Minister in Gandhinagar and extended their support to the saffron party for the polls of 317 bodies of panchayats and municipalities slated on November 29. “Besides, over 20 members of PAAS, including Vijapur convener Manoj Patel wrote to the Chief Minister extending their support to the BJP,” said a sources in the State BJP unit.
Reacting on the development SPG group Chief lalji Patel termed the episode as fabricated and claimed that it is nothing but ploy of BJP leaders to divide Patidars. Patel also termed the 35 conveners who joined the saffron brigade as “self-appointed”. The support of agitating bodies’ conveners would have positive impact for the BJP in the second phase of local-self Government polls, including 56 municipalities, 31 district panchayats and 240 taluka (tahesil) panchayats.
Meanwhile, the Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel faced strong protest from Patidar females during election campaign to the second phase of a two-tier local-self Government polls at Viramgam, the home town of jailed PAAS convener Hardik Patel. On Wednesday, the Gujarat CM had similar experience at her home town Patan in North Gujarat.
According to sources Viramgam town was virtually converted into a police fortress in view of the intelligence reports that there would be mass protest demonstration from members of the Patel community against the Chief Minister who, the pro-quota agitators believe, was responsible for crushing their reservation agitation and putting their leaders in jail on grave charges, including sedition charge.
As Anandiben reached the venue of her election meeting, women from Patel community appeared from different directions beating dishes with spoons and shouting slogans against the BJP. Police swung into action to disperse the demonstrations and took into preventive detention the mother and younger sister of Hardik who too were among the protesters.