Patels hold mega rally for OBC quota demand; warn BJP government

GANDHINAGAR: As Gujarat virtually rolled out the red carpet to the agitating Patidars to hold their mega rally, the face of the agitation, Hardik Patel, held the state government to ransom by demanding that Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel personally come to the stage at GMDC ground in Ahmedabad to receive the memorandum.

While the Patidars had earlier announced that they will not pay any money at the toll plazas, the state government waived the toll for 24 hours, facilitating the Patidars to attend the event. The government also waived the rental for the GMDC ground where the meeting — organisers claimed 18 lakh people attended the event — was held.

Hardik, at the end of his address, announced that while the Ahmedabad Collector had decided to come down to the venue to collect the memorandum, he insisted that he would sit on a fast until CM personally accepts the same.

Hardik claimed that if Patidar’s demands for inclusion in the OBC list is not met, the community will throw out the government in the 2017 polls.

Pointing out the political clout that the community holds, he said that while the community will gracefully accept the OBC status if granted, it can also snatch the same if need be.

Meanwhile, skirmishes broke out across the city — stone pelting were reported from Vadaj, agitators resorted to vandalism at Mansi Circle in Vastrapur area and police had to resort to lathi charge in Mahalakshmi Charrasta in Paldi area.