Rajkot: Naresh Patel, Leuva Patel community leader who heads Rajkot based Khodaldham Trust will speak to Hardik Patel today and ask him to end his 14-day fast(parna).

Before leaving for Ahmedabad, Naresh Patel told media persons in Rajkot that the community was concerned about Hardik Patel’s well being and on appeal and request of elders and youths in community, he was going to Ahmedabad to hold discussion with Hardik in order to bring positive end for good of the state and the community.

Naresh Patel said he was going to attempt for solution to fast issue through talks. He would first speak to trustees, conveners and volunteers of Khodaldham Trust in Ahmedabad and later will go and speak to Hardik.

‘My priority will be to ensure that Hardik ends his fast today. Later whatever are the issues, they will be discussed with Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti(PAAS) friends and whatever I find appropriate/if appropriate, I will take up with the government,’ he said.

Naresh Patel further said that so far he had not conversed with PAAS friends and Hardik, however the local team of Khodaldham was in contact with Hardik. The Ahmedabad based team of Khodaldham decides who should meet Hardik and when should meet, he said adding that Ahmedabad based Khodaldham leader Dinesh Kumbhani had met minister of state for Home, Government of Gujarat yesterday and decision arrived that I should visit Hardik and attempt conclusion of his fast agitation.

Naresh Patel pointed out that Khodaldham was among six Patidar community organizations that had initiated process to resolve the issue of Hardik’s fast.

He said he favors an opinion that weaker section of all communities should get benefit of reservation quota. He said he was also concerned about the issues of farmers.

On government’s argument that granting of reservation quota was constitutionally not possible, Naresh Patel said he will take up this issue with Hardik. He added that possibilities should be explored whether through community, the Public Interest Litigation(PILs) in Supreme Court or High Court can sped up.

It should be noted here that three demands over which Hardik Patel is sitting on fast include reservation quota to Patidar community under Other Backward Class(OBC) category in jobs and education, waiver of farmers’ loans and release of jailed PAAS leader Surat based Alpesh Kathiriya who is presently in judicial custody by court order in year 2015 sedition case.

Meanwhile Hardik Patel in his tweet said, he has personally not asked anybody to play a role of mediator. This is an agitation and any person can resolve the main issues of agitation. I respect all leaders and organizations of community. I am an agitator, I am concerned only with the issues. Community leaders are into mediation for last three years.

DeshGujarat