Patidars meet NCBC chief, say legal move not chaos can pave the way

New Delhi/Ahmedabad

The convener of Patidar Anamant Sangharsh Samiti (PASS). Ashwin Patel along with a delegation of the politically strong Patel (Patidar) community of Gujarat today met the chairman of National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), Justice V Eswaraiah in New Delhi to hand him over a memorandum demanding inclusion of the community in other backward classes (OBC) for reservation benefits.

He, later, appealed the community, which has over one crore population in the state, not to resort to the violent and chaotic means of rallies and demonstration for the purpose and take the legal path initiated by his outfit.

Talking to newsmen in Delhi Mr. Patel said, ‘we were advised by the commission to fill up the survey form with appropriate details and get it recommended by the state OBC commission before re-approaching the national body. This is a legal process and would pave way for the fulfillment of our demand. The people should not get swayed away by some of the misguided members of our community and rather participate in the drive to get 50 lakh signatures for submission to the national commission and other authorities. This is the only way not the rallies and disorder which would just disturb the peace of the state,’ he said.

Meanwhile another organisation of the community Patel Anamat Aandolan (PAA) today organised several rallies in the state. One such rally was taken out in Patan, the home town of chief minister Mrs. Anandiben Patel. Other rallies were organised in Prantij, Modasa and the one in Mahesana where the PAA convener Hardik Patel and head of Sardar Patel Group Lalji Patel were present.

In a related development the five members the PAA’s committee formed in connection with the proposed August 25 mega rally in Ahmedabad, today started hunger strike to protest the reported refusal of the Municipal Corporation (AMC) to grant permission for the rally at Sabarmati riverfront. The committee member Ketan Patel said they had no other option but resort to hunger strike.

PAA has claimed to gather over 25 lakh people during the rally.

The government which held talks in Gandhinagar with some of the community representatives through its seven ministers’ committee formed for the purpose, however, indicated that the conditional permission to take out the rally at a different venue might be granted. The Surat Patidar Samiti which participated in the talks today claimed that it did not make a headway.

DeshGujarat