Gandhinagar

A committee of 7 ministers today held hearing session for Patidar community organization at community hall of ministerial enclave in capital Gandhinagar. Patidar outfits are demanding reservation for Patel community members in Other Backward Class(OBC) category. A committee of 7 ministers appointed to invite and hear the members from all communities demanding reservation, is headed by minister Nitin Patel. Ministers Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Babubhai Bokhiria, Ramanlal Vora, Vasuben Trivedi, Rajni Patel and Nanubhai Vanani are members of this committee.

In his opening remark in the meeting which was attended by 11 members of Patidar community outfit Sardar Patel Group(SPG) including its head Laljibhai Patel and Dr PC Patel, Minister Nitinbhai Patel said, “Today is the first Somvar of holy month of Shravan and we are meeting here. In the past various issues have come up and Gujarat’s wise people with good understanding have resolved such issues in different phases. Gujarat has come out from many challenges in the past. We have full faith that you too will cooperate us. All caste, community, society will have to extend cooperation for development of Gujarat. Your suggestions, demands will be discussed, studied and if needed we will meet again. It is not that this is first and last meeting. Discussions help to bring result. In the past too we have created an atmosphere(of talk) and have been successful. We will also meet the organizations of other communities in future. Each caste, community, society has right over this government. And this government will also give its best attempt to do all that is possible in its limitation for development of each caste, community, and I am sure we will be successful.”

The committee is going to hear a group of Brahmin community also today.

Update: The committee heard Patidar and Brahmin community groups. While Brahmin delegation was happy after the meeting with the government, Patidar community delegation that met the committee had mixed opinion. Dr PC Patel said the delegation members didn’t even drink water during the meeting. He said government wanted to trape us through other offers, but we were firm over the demand of inclusion of Patidars in Other Backward Class(OBC) category. We don’t want anything other than OBC inclusion. Government’s attitude was negative. The meeting has failed. Government can pass a law. It has 2/3rd majority. Same organization’s Dr Nachiket Mukhi however was satisfied with the hearing session. He said government heard the delegation properly.

– DeshGujarat