Hardik vows to go national with quota stir

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 30

Spelling trouble for the Narendra Modi government, Hardik Patel — the face of Patidar quota stir in Gujarat — today announced plans for a nationwide protest seeking reservation for “27 crore people” of related communities, including Gujjars.

After meeting leaders of various communities, Hardik said the reservation stir he led in Gujarat “was a marathon and not a 100-metre race” and he would hold rallies across the country to increase its coverage. “We want to take whatever happened in Gujarat to the national level. People in around 12 states are connected to us,” said the 22-year-old who now reportedly enjoys the support of leaders from other OBC communities, including Gujjars of Rajasthan and Jats of Haryana, Delhi and western UP.

Hardik, whose agitation was seen as a dare to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 13-year supremacy in the state that he ruled as the Chief Minister, said his intention was not to challenge anyone. He also said he would not allow any political party to be part of the agitation.

But, the BJP is worried. It was evident over the way the Prime Minister, who has maintained silence over uncomfortable controversies dogging his government, took to Twitter immediately after the situation in Gujarat turned out of control.

During his “Mann ki Baat” radio talk today, the PM again referred to the Gujarat violence saying the quota stir had “shocked and pained” the nation. “Recent incidents of violence in Gujarat have upset the entire nation. Whatever happens to the land of Gandhi and Sardar Patel, the nation is shocked and pained first," the Prime Minister said.

According to an RSS ideologue, Patidar-type agitation can have potential in regions where there is a dominant caste which for some reason is feeling agitated over losing control over resources or politics it enjoyed earlier.

“Reservation-type caste-based agitations and politics have significant scope in states where there is a dominant caste. For example Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Haryana,” the RSS ideologue said.

Threatening to intensify agitation till success is achieved, Hardik said: “I intend to bring together 27 crore people of the community in different states. I want to take our movement all over the nation. Wherever the Patel community needs me, I will go. During this time, if we feel the need for muscle power of the community, they will help us. And whenever required, they will block the highways.”