Ahmedabad: Congress supported and supporting quota agitation leader Hardik Patel today held a meeting of his supporters from across Gujarat in the lawn of a grand party-plot size bungalow in Ahmedabad over lunch.

Addressing the media, Hardik Patel whose violent agitation caused deaths of dozen youths in the past today said he would sit on indefinite fast from August 25 in Ahmedabad. In his now well-known anarchist style, he said the fast program will go on irrespective of permission for the same is granted or denied by the administration.

Hardik said his fast will be joined daily by 500 to 700 people from each of ten talukas. He said, while he will sit on indefinite fast, those attending the programme along with him will observe one-day fast.It should be mentioned that though Hardik has announced to sit on indefinite fast, the permission for allotment of Nikol area based ground of AMC for fast progamme has been sought for five days by his team last week during meeting with district collector and city Mayor.

Hardik claimed his fast agitation was supported by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee who refuses to deport Bangladeshi intruders, RJD leader Tejasvi Yadav who is son of corruption case convict Lalu Yadav and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav who had used remarks such as ‘Gujarat ke gadhey’ and also questioned why no Gujarati is martyred for nation in Kashmir.

Hardik said leaders of other quota agitations such as Gujjar and Maratha reservation agitation movements will also visit his fast venue and sit with him on stage. It should be mentioned that even after repeated rejections from various courts, Gujjar and Maratha quota demands are being made in agitation mode against BJP ruled governments in Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

Showing clear political overtones, Hardik said his fast agitation will take place for two demands – quota for Patidars in jobs and education and waiver of debt of farmers. It’s worth noting that Hardik – possibly as per political script – for last several months is trying to emerge not just as caste linked quota agitation leader but also as farmers’ leader. The original agitation was never for debt waiver for farmers. It was only for quota. Total waiver of debt was Congress’s agenda in its manifesto last year ahead of the general elections of assembly. Hardik had supported Congress in every way during the polls. His secret meeting with Rahul Gandhi in five-star hotel in Ahmedabad was exposed through leaked CCTV footage of hotel. When asked about debt waiver agenda, Hardik told media persons that he realized he should add this agenda while touring across the rural areas.

As Madhya Pradesh is going to witness general elections of assembly later this year, Hardik has paid several visits to Madhya Pradesh to support Congress. Today he said as many as 400 cars will travel to Gujarat from Madhya Pradesh for his fast programme.

Hardik told media persons that maintaining law and order would be the State government’s job. He said if he was arrested, he would continue indefinite fast in prison, while his supporters would hold indefinite fast agitation across the state.

Hardik said only district conveners of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti(PAAS) and guests from outside the State will be allowed to sit with him on stage. Others can sit in audience, he added.

He said the responsibility to talk with State government has been assigned to Surat PAAS convener Alpesh Kathiria, while Arrangements in Ahmedabad are assigned to Jayeshbhai and Gitaben Patel.

Gitaben Patel was aspirant for Congress ticket last year in assembly polls. The meeting today at Hardik’s party-plot size bungalow was also attended by Congress MLA Kirit Patel from Patan.

Hardik was struggling to revive his agitation for last few months as the Lok Sabha elections are less than year away.

DeshGujarat