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With the “failure” of the first serious attempt to broker peace between the BJP Government and the influential Patidar community ahead of crucial village panchayat polls scheduled later this month and Assembly elections in 2017, the Patels, on Thursday, threatened to relaunch and intensify their agitation seeking reservation in government jobs and educational institutions next week.
Varun Patel, spokesman of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), said the talks between the 11-member Patel leaders, and the State Government represented by a group of ministers led by Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, remained “inconclusive”. He said the government “failed” to give any assurance on the four main demands raised by PASS to end the agitation that began in July 2015 under the leadership of Hardik Patel, 23.
The four demands raised by PASS as a precondition to wage peace are: (1) Constitutional provision for reservation to the Patels in government jobs and educational institutions; (2) Forming a statutory Commission for resolution of the issues of the Patel community; (3) Withdrawal of cases against Patidar leaders and strict action against police and other officials for perpetrating “atrocities” on the Patels in 2015, and (4) Compensation of Rs.35 lakh to the families of Patel “martyred” during the agitation and government jobs to a member of each of these victims.
In a statement, Hardik, currently exiled in Udaipur following a court order, said the Gujarat Government has made it “clear” that it was against the Patidars. “They just want to buy time and wasted five hours of meeting. No decision has been taken on the reservation issue nor has the government done its homework properly. We are waiting for Monday, after which a state-wide agitation will begin.”
He also stated that the Gujarat Government was incapable of taking a decision “independently” as it was taking orders from New Delhi.
Later, Nitin Patel told reporters that the talks were held in an “amicable atmosphere”. The State Government will consider the demands and take appropriate decisions. He also asked PAAS to apply for the Patels’ inclusion as an OBC to the relevant commission.
He said, next week, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani will hold talks with various stakeholders and the date for the next meeting will be announced.
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