Reservation row: Nitish Kumar lends support to Patel community's agitation in Gujarat

PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today lent support to the agitation by Patel community in Gujarat demanding its inclusion in the OBC category and said the state government "could delay" it, but cannot 'turn a blind eye' over the issue.

"You can delay the demand but cannot wish it away," Kumar told newsmen here.

"I extend my good wishes to the people of Patel and Patidar castes agitating for the justified demand of inclusion in OBC category.

"Their demand is justified. In other parts of the country similar kind of castes are getting the facility which is denied to the them in Gujarat," Kumar said, emerging from a Bihar Cabinet meeting.

The community's leader Hardik Patel, who is spearheading the agitation, had taken name of Nitish Kumar as their own leader in his speech.

Kumar in turn praised Patel, whom he described as "young and emerging leader" for organising the agitation for "a just cause".

The latest census data on religion was a routine exercise, Kumar added.