A day after the polling of the first phase of the two-tiered local self-Government bodies, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Monday said that Patels would not get reservation in Government jobs and education under OBC category.
Addressing a poll rally in Patel-dominated Amreli district for the second phase of polls slated on November 29, the Gujarat Chief Minister said that there is no question of giving them (Patels) quota as the State Government would not let other communities suffer.
She added that the quota of these communities would not be compromised to pamper Patels.
This was the first time that Anandiben emphatically ruled out reservations for the community which has been agitating for OBC quota for the last four months. Making it doubly clear that the Patidars will not be given reservations, the Chief Minister said her Government will not let other communities suffer.
Two organisations of Patels — Sardar Patel Group (SPG) and Patidar Anamat Anadolan Samiti (PAAS) — have urged Patidar community to vote against the BJP in protest of sedition charge against jailed PAAS convener Hardik Patel. However, the State BJP leaders are confident of winning the local body polls. According to them, Patidars traditionally support BJP and the four-month-old agitation cannot change their mind.
The State Government has announced a special financial package, as education subsidy for engineering and management students belonging to economically weaker sections for all the communities including upper castes. The package was announced in September after Hardik Patel’s mega rally at GMDC ground in Ahmedabad. However, PAAS and SPG termed the package as lollipop and continued pro-quota agitation.