Though his three major demands have not been accepted by the State Government, the 25-year-old Patel quota stir leader Hardik Patel abruptly ended ‘fast-unto-death’ agitation on Wednesday by consuming coconut water, lime water at the hands of Patidar community leaders.
To mark third anniversary of mega-rally organised in the year 2015, Hardik set on indefinite agitation from August 25 with three major demands – reservation to Patidar community in Government jobs and educational institutions under OBC category, debt waiver for farmers and release of his jailed closed aide Alpesh Kathiria who is facing sedition charge.
After consuming food on the 19th day of his fast agitation, the convener of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) claimed that he ended fast agitation out of respect for Patidar community leaders who were requesting him over the past one week. “Patidar community is united. Since leaders of the community are with PAAS, I don’t need to worry. The decision to end fasting was taken on the belief that if we live, we can fight and if we can fight, we shall live,” said Hardik claiming that all the major Patidar organisations have first time united as fast agitation helped to bridge the deep gorge among these organisations.
Divulging future course of action Hardik said that he was not going to enervate. In fact he went on to say that he has been recharged by 19-day long fasting and can protest for another 19 years and keep on raising issues related to farmers and Patidar community. Comparing the BJP ruled Government with British Government during pre-independence era he said that in coming days, he will travel across the State and visit more than 12,000 villages to oust BJP government not only from Gandhinagar but also from Delhi.
Hardik compared his agitation against the BJP with that of Jayprakash Narayan and Rammanohar Lohia’s movement and said that farmers of Gujarat needed to unit in order to save democracy. He trained his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah saying that there was no democracy in the State (Gujarat) which gave Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel to the nation.
Leaders of both the sub-castes of Patidars – Leuva and Kadava Patels who are representing highest religious organisations Khodaldham and Umiyadham respectively reached at Hardik’s residence and persuaded him to end the fast agitation. Head of Khodaldham, Naresh Patel said it was important to remain healthy to fight for the community. Another Patidar leader CK Patel, who is associated with Umiyadham, said that fasting was not the only option to raise issue, if Hardik’s health remained in good shape, he would be able to do better work for the community.