Accusing ruling BJP for adopting divide and rule policy, 22-year-old jailed convener of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) said in a letter to Gujarat CM Anandiben that the saffron party instigates clashes between different sections of society including that of Hindus and Muslims.
Terming his fight for reservation to upper caste Patidar as an effort to abolish discrimination between gender as well as rich and poor, the PAAS convener in the letter said that the fight of the Patel community youth was not only for their demand for reservation in jobs and education but also for the abolition of discrimination between men and women and between the rich and the poor.
He also sent a copy of letter to Gujarat BJP president RC Faldu who is also from the Patidar community. The pro-quota agitation leader further said that Patidars had made sacrifices for the rise of the BJP in Gujarat in the last two decades despite the fact nearly 80 Patel members were serving life term in jail since the communal violence of 2002.
“Votes and money of Patidars were instrumental for the BJP to come to power. As the party has strong hold in the state, the BJP ruled government killed 10 Patidar youth and sent hundreds to jail. But you (Chief Minister) should not be under impression that the party would continue to be in power for ever,” he said in the letter.
Hardik claimed that Patidars are now united and they wouldn’t be pocket borough of BJP or the agents of opposition Congress party. Patels have capability to throw out those who would betray the community, he said adding that the saffron party is not yet come above conflict between Hindus and Muslims and between upper castes and lower castes.
He termed the pro-quota agitation of Patidars as reaction to the enhancing unemployment in the state. According to him thousands of people do not have adequate food to eat, farmers are forced to commit suicide and education is becoming exceedingly expensive.
In context of the state government’s recent move to withdraw 74 cases against Patidars related to pro-quota agitation, he said that by withdrawing some cases against the agitators recently was like slapping again on the face rather than apologizing for the slap.
The PAAS leader also tried to become humble in his letter and apologized to the Gujarat CM for any mistake that he might have committed during the on-going agitation. In another letter, Hardik also appealed to his supporters to give up their fast for his release.