Hardik begins hunger strike for quota from home, finds support in Congress
Patidar quota leader Hardik Patel started his indefinite hunger strike at his residence in outskirts of the city on Saturday, renewing his demand for reservation for farming community in jobs and admissions in institutes of higher education.
In the presence of a few supporters who reached his residence despite police restrictions, the 25-year-old vowed not to eat until his two demands — OBC status to Patidars and loan waiver for farmers — were met.
Like the August 2015 Patidar rally in Ahmedabad, this event, too, started with a speech by Hardik, who was issuing warnings to the ruling BJP. But, this year, the police and administration have taken adequate precautionary steps to ensure that the protest does not turn violent like it did then, when 14 youths were killed and public property worth ₹44 crore was damaged.
“I appeal all the political parties and leaders to raise voice against Britisher’s type rule of the BJP government. A Jallianwala Bagh-like situation has been created outside my home. Even supply of essentials like milk and water has been stopped. Some 16,000 supporters, who had started to reach here, have been detained across the state,’’ said Hardik.
Additional director general of police, RB Brahmbhatt, dismissed his allegations, saying, “Not 16,000, only 158 persons across Gujarat have been detained. He [Hardik] was denied permission this time to keep law and order situation under control,’’ he said.
To prevent a repeat of the 2015 agitation, police personnel have been deployed at sensitive cities such as Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot, BRTS services in Patidar dominated areas of Surat are discontinued for a day to prevent torching of public vehicles.
A source said three Congress MLAs — Lalit Vasoya, Lalit Kagathara and Kirit Patel — were not allowed to reach Hardik’s home. However, the source added, Patel did host a lunch for a couple of hundred people later.
Chief minister Vijay Rupani and deputy chief minister Nitin Patel and , who were at Kevadiya Colony to oversee the construction of Sardar Patel statue, said, “It is a Congress-sponsored agitation... the Congress wants to divide the community.”
Congress MLA Vasoya said the party has sought an appointment with governor OP Kohli to make representation that Hardik should be allowed to protest.
Independent MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani visited Patel to offer his support. “Vijaybhai (Rupani) and Narendrabhai (Modi) should think that why one is required to observe fast for farm loan waiver...,’’ he said.