Gandhinagar: The much awaited meeting between government and Patidar community outfits today started here in which leaders of PAAS including its convener Hardik Patel is also reportedly participating even as BJP president Jeetu Vaghani, a patidar himself has distanced himself owing to objections by PAAS and to pave way for smooth sailing of it.

Before the meeting which started this afternoon a scene was created on the gate of secretariat (Swarnim Sankul 2) here when the PAAS leaders including Hardik objected to the stiff security check.

He however said that he was hopeful that at least three of their four demands apart from OBC quota for Patidar community would likely be resolved today. These are setting up of Patidar commission, withdrawal of cases lodged during Patidar quota stir and compensation/job for the families of those died during the violent stir.

Dhari MLA Nalin Kotadiya, who was also participating in the meeting convened by DyCM Nitin Patel, said that he was also hopeful of some resolution.

‘Though I am an MLA of BJP yet I will not side with the government if the issues pertaining to Patidar community were not resolved properly,’ he said.

In the meeting apart from the heads and other office bearers of the six main religious bodies of Patidar community including Umiya mata trust and Khodaldham several members of PAAS including Dinesh Bambhaniya, Lalit Vasoya, Varun Patel , Manoj Panara, Ravi Patel and Reshma Patel and SPG leaders were participating.

Hardik had yesterday raised objection to Jeetu Vaghani’s participation in the meeting warning that his outfit might ‘boycott’ the meeting if political leaders were invited in it.

Dy CM Nitin Patel had invited various Patidar leaders including Hardik for the meeting.

DeshGujarat