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Nandini Oza
Nandini Oza

Patel quotas

Ahead of Rahul's visit, Hardik Patel issues ultimatum to Congress

24HardikPatel (File photo) Hardik Patel

The Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), spearheading the agitation demanding reservation for patels under OBC quota, on Saturday issued a stern warning to the Congress, asking the grand old party to clarify how it plans to grant reservation to the community.

According to PAAS leader Dinesh Bamaniya, the core committee of the PAAS, which met in Palitana, made it clear that if the Congress did not clarify its stand by November 3, then Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's programme would meet the same fate as that of BJP national president Amit Shah's programme in Surat.

The PAAS core committee meeting was chaired by Hardik Patel, who took to Twitter to issue the warning to the Congress.

Gandhi, whose recent tours and rallies in Gujarat have been successful, is slated to address a meeting in Surat on November 3. He will be in the state for three days.

A few months ago, PAAS workers had disrupted BJP's function in which Shah was present along with Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

In response to the “threat” of sorts, Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia held a press conference and said other than the 49 per cent reservation that is already in place in Gujarat, should the Congress come to power, it would make provisions for 20 per cent reservation for those who are economically backward and are not covered in 49 per cent category.

Reacting to Modhwadia's claims, Bamaniya said it (Congress) should specify how reservation would be given. A few days ago, former Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela had said if they (Jan Vikalp), a third force, came to power, it would give 25 per cent reservation.

The threat comes at a time when there is a possibility of Hardik meeting Gandhi during his upcoming visit to the state. State Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki had extended invitation to PAAS, Alpesh Thakore of OBC Ekta Manch, dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, dalit leader, JD (U) and NCP to join hands to defeat the BJP. Following the invitation, Thakore has joined the Congress.

Hardik has been asking the patidars to dethrone the BJP and Mevani too has made it clear that he is anti-BJP.

Bamaniya also said if the Congress did not make its stand clear by November 3, then it (PAAS) would ask members to the local self government bodies to start resigning. In the elections to district and taluk panchayats in 2015, the BJP had fared poor and the Congress had performed exceedingly well. The performance was attributed to the fact that the Patels were “antagonised” with the BJP.

The support of patidars means a lot to both the BJP and the Congress.

Gujarat will vote on December 9 and 14 to elect 182 MLAs.

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