Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convener Hardik Patel has decided to meet MlAs from Patidar community to know their stand on reservation movement for OBC quota.
On the sidelines of condolence meeting of Swetang, the PAAS convener told the reporters that he along with his supporters would ask all the 35 Patel MlAs in Gujarat irrespective of their parties whether they are with the community or not on the issue of Patidars’ inclusion in OBC category. He further said that he would not only meet MlAs but his supporters would give them roses too and their answers will be recorded on cameras.
Meanwhile, rift between two groups over the leadership of Patel community for the ongoing OBC quota stir is apparently deepening. Cold war between two leaders - 22-year-old Hardik Patel of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and his former guru laljibhai Patel of Sardar Patel Group (SPG) has intensified.
On Thursday, a meeting was organised by Hardik Patel on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. At the same time, another meeting was held under the leadership of laljibhai at Kathwada area of the city. Both the groups met to chalk out future strategy to take forward their agitation for inclusion of Patels in OBC category, post ‘Maha Kranti Rally’ on August 25 that had seen an estimated million Patels participate. However, publicly both leaders are maintaining that their cause is similar but their paths are different.
In a clear sign of rift in the Patels’ agitation for reservation, lalji Patel, who had played a prominent role at the beginning of the stir, on Thursday said that “no single person was the leader of the movement”.
“No one is the leader of the agitation, this is an agitation of the entire community....Not me or even Hardik bhai. This agitation has been led by all soldiers of Patel community,” said lalji, who heads Sardar Patel Group (SPG).