Over 190 pro-reservation rallies in 48 days, 135 of Patels

Ahmedabad

Since the violent rally of politically strong Patel community in Visnagar town of Mahesana district on July 6 this year Gujarat has seen a spate of over 190 pro-reservation rallies in past 48 days of which almost 135 were to press the demand of the inclusion of Patidars (Patels) in the other backward classes (OBC) category.

The pro-reservation rallies first started by the Patidar Anamat Aandolan Samiti (PAAS) from North Gujarat spread to Saurashtra, Kutch, South and Central regions. Of the 135 rallies of the organisation held so far the two most largest were held in Surat and Vadodara city. The Patel demonstrations hogged the limelight when the mob in the July 6 rally in Visnagar vandalized the office of local BJP MLA Rushikesh Patel and torched a vehicle parked nearby.

The Brahmsamaj (Brahmins), Kshatriyas, Raghuvanshis (Lohana), Sonis and some other castes too joined the chaotic bandwagon later. They have cumulatively held almost 55 rallies so far. While the upper caste Brahmins and Kshatriyas are demanding reservation on economic grounds the others have put forth similar demands as that of the Patels for inclusion in the OBC list.

Even today a day before the supposedly largest rally (Kranti rally) of Patel community in Ahmedabad tomorrow, four smaller rallies of the community were taken out in Mundra of Kutch, Mahmedabad of Kheda, Dharampur of Valsad and Navsari town. The Sindhi community also took out a procession in Ahmedabad today to support the Patel agitation.

Kshatriya community took out rallies in Mansa and Patan while the Lohanas held pro-reservation rallies in Kalyanpur and Surendranagar today. Soni community held a rally in Junagarh.

Meanwhile, the state government which had so far shown liberal attitude in the matter took a tough stance yesterday with chief minister Mrs. Anandiben Patel, a member of the Patel community herself, categorically ruled out any possibility of conceding the demand of reservation citing constitutional limitations and supreme court rulings.

The OBC communities have also come out in the open to oppose the demands of inclusion of other castes in their category. The OBC Ekta Manch held a Maha-dharna here yesterday saying they won’t allow any sharing of the 27 percent reservation quota meant for the existing 146 castes of the category.

– DeshGujarat