Rahul invokes Sardar Patel, hits out at Modi
At Dhrol, a tiny town in Rajkot district with significant Patidar population, a worker of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) made the Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi wear a white skull cap with slogans- Jai Sardar , Jai Patidar and Jai Hindi.
The scene raised hopes of the crowd, majority of who were Patidars and many among them too had donned the same cap. PAAS is an outfit created by Hardik Patel, who is leading the agitation for the OBC reservation.
Gandhi, who arrived here on second day of his three-day Navsarjan Yatra across politically sensitive Saurashtra, too tried to reach out. He invoked Sardar Patel. Continuing attack on Gujarat model, Gandhi said Gujarat need old model of Amul, which took care of everybody.
Reminding people of the deaths of 14 Patidar youths in clashes with police in 2015, Gandhi said, “When youths asked for their right, BJP treated you with bullets...this is not the Congress way..Congress believe in taking everyone along”, he said.
Gandhi added, “You ( patidars)
JAMNAGAR/MORBI:
gave Sardar Patelji...Gujarat gave Sardar Patelji. Gujarat will have to take lead in taking nation to new heights...”
At Latipur village, he shook hands with the audience and launched an indirect attack on PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah saying, “Vikas ko kya hua hai(What has happened to vikas)’’, he asked and the crowd responded, “Gaando thayo che(gone crazy)’’.
He stopped briefly at Tankara, Khimrana, Rampara on the route before a road show in Rajkot city. At this hub of Saurashtra, Gandhi was to meet with industrialists and businessmen to discuss issues pertaining from implementation of GST.
As Gandhi tried to woo Patidars, the government in Gandhinagar Tuesday announced to form a commission for non-reserved categories .
“A commission for all non reserved category will be formed. A decision in this regard will be taken in Wednesday’s cabinet meet’’, said deputy chief minister Nitin Patel, adding, ``Cases against Patidars will be withdrawn and compensation to those died in clashes with police will be given...’’