Gujarat Patel Community Seeks OBS Status - Over 10 lakh launch massive protest rally Tuesday August 25,2015

 

A year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi left his home state Gujarat, turmoil is brewing in the state with the economically dominant Patel community seeking Other Backward Class status.

Over 10 lakh Patidars have planned a massive protest meeting and rally in Ahmedabad on Tuesday August 25,2015

 

The Patel community, represented by the Patidar Aarakshan Andolan Samiti, has been demanding reservation in the OBC category. Their contention is that Patel youth are neither getting admissions in colleges nor jobs in the government and want 27 per cent quota in government jobs and education

Hardik Patel, Convener of Patidar Aarakshan Andolan Samiti, said, "If people want us to go to jail, we will do so. Those who have hurt the interests of Patels have had to go. In 1985, we sent the Congress government packing. Anybody who hurts the ego of Patels will meet the same fate."

Accounting for 12 % of Gujarat's population, the Patels are among the economically strong communities of the state.

Anandiben Patel, state BJP President RC Faldu and seven other ministers are from Patel community

Those from the Schedules Tribes have 15 % reservation, Scheduled Castes have 7.5 % and OBCs have 27 %

There are 146 communities in the OBC list and Patels want themselves to be named as 147th in the list.

Patels' demand is being opposed by other communities in the OBC list as they fear inclusion of Patidars will shrink their quota

The Gujarat government has not met any of the Patels' demands yet, but is treading carefully as it does not want to antagonise a loyal votebank. Patels have been the bedrock of BJP's larger social coalition in the state.
Chief Minister Anandiben Patel said, "You are aware of Constitutional provisions and Supreme Court judgements. We are not in a position to increase SC, ST and OBC reservation status beyond 50%."

Protest for quota turns ugly, curfew imposed in several parts of the state, Hardik Patel calls for 'Gujarat Bandh'

Curfew has been imposed in several parts of Gujarat after members of the Patel community resorted to arson and vandalism late on Tuesday night.

The move comes after 21-year-old Hardik Patel, who is on a hunger strike demanding reservation and leading the agitation, was briefly detained on Tuesday night August 25,2015

He was released just an hour after his detention.As news of his detention spread, violence broke out in several parts of Gujarat including Ahmedabad, Surat, Mehsana, Rajkot and some interior areas of the state

Hardik Patel(22),leader of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti(PAAS) has called for a state-wide bandh on Wednesday to intensify the agitation. He also urged his community members to maintain peace as several parts of Gujarat witnessed incidents of violence.

"I make an appeal to maintain peace and keep calm. I give a call for Gujarat bandh. This decision has been taken by Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti considering widespread violence in the state," 

Paramilitary forces like State Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force and Rapid Action Force have been deployed in cities like Ahmedabad and Mehsana.

 However, no casualties have been reported in the state so far.