The first round of talks between representatives of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and Vijay Rupani-led Gujarat Government on Thursday ended without any conclusion.
In fact after the meeting Patidar leaders indicated to relaunch pro-quota agitation. Spokesperson of PAAS Varun Patel said that PAAS representatives felt that the talk was utter failure. The government nominees simply heard PAAS point of view in details and said that they would consult the chief minister and party high command (in Delhi) on Monday and invite them later on, he added.
The talks began between 11-member team of Patel leaders and Gujarat Government represented by group of ministers led by deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel in Gandhinagar. The meeting was held on invite extended by Vijay Rupani Government to PAAS. Despite having marathon five-hour talks, the meet could not achieve any breakthrough. Nitin Patel had also headed talks to find solution to Patel imbroglio in the erstwhile Anandiben Patel Government but had yielded no results.
The PAAS representatives reportedly stuck to their key demands of Constitutional provision for reservation to the Patels in Government jobs and educational institutions; Forming of a statutory commission on the lines of OBC Commission for resolution of their issues; Withdrawal of all the cases against Patel leaders and initiating strict action against police officials for perpetrating atrocities on Patels during the agitation; and compensation of Rs35 lakh to the next of kin of Patels who lost their lives in the agitation and Government jobs to at least one member of family of each of these victims.
Nitin Patel said that the talks were held in an amicable atmosphere and that the State Government would consider the demands and take appropriate decisions. He also asked PAAS to approach OBC Commission for inclusion of Patels to the list. According to Patel, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani would talk to Patidar leaders in next meeting.
Reacting on the first round of talk PAAS conviner Hardik Patel said that the State Government has once again disappointed Patidars. The State Government didn’t have powers and all the decisions would be taken from Delhi, he said, adding that the state government was not prepared at all for the talk.