RPI(A) president Ramdas Athawale backs Patel quota agitation

MUMBAI: Republican Party of India (Athawale) president Ramdas Athawale extended his support to the Patel community's agitation for quota in Gujarat, saying that his party workers too would "join the protest".

"The Patel community's demands should be fulfilled by the government and they should be given reservation. It would not be right to include them in an existing category. They should be given reservation in a separate category. There is a misconception that all Brahmins are wealthy. They too need reservations based on their financial status," Athawale, whose party is an NDA constituent told reporters here.

"If the government does not fulfill their demands, RPI(A) workers in Gujarat will stand shoulder to shoulder with their Patel brothers and keep agitating until their demands are fulfilled. Similar agitations will be held in Maharashtra as well," Athawale, a member of the Rajya Sabha said.

At least ten people have died in recent clashes with the police during violence which spread across Gujarat after Hardik Patel's detention from his rally venue.

Hardik Patel, who is the convener of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, has been spearheading the movement to get reservation for Patels under the Other Backward Class (OBC).