High drama, a plea in the Gujarat High Court and a Union minister speaking in favour of reservation for Patidars marked day seven of pro-quota stir leader Hardik Patel's indefinite hunger fast in Ahmedabad on Friday.
Patel, 25, has been demanding reservation in jobs and education for the Patidar community. He is also demanding loan waiver for farmers.
Talking to media persons in Ahmedabad, Union minister of state for social justice Ramdas Athawale said that he was in favour of Patidars getting reservation in a manner in which it does not affect the benefits given to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The MP of Republican Party of India, who is part of the NDA at the Centre, said that he had told Patel that if he wanted that Patidars to get reservation, he should stop supporting Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
The Union minister said that supporting Gandhi would make no sense and Patel should, instead, support Narendra Modi. Athawale said, “Patel should go to the BJP, and if he wanted to hold discussion then I am ready to be a mediator.”
At Patel's residence, several Congress leaders, including Arjun Modwadia, visited him on Friday. Modwadia asked the Patidar leader to continue his fight and at the same time also to take care of his health.
Saint S.P. Swami from Gadhada, located in Saurashtra, also visited Patel. The young leader got emotional when the swami tried to persuade him to drink water. Patel, who has given up water since Thursday, sought time to think over the suggestion.
Meanwhile, the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, of which Patel is the convener, approached the Gujarat High Court, saying people were being stopped from reaching his residence and that the police were unnecessarily troubling them. The PAAS also alleged that the police are being misused.
In its representation, the Gujarat Government said that the police force has been deployed to maintain law and order situation and ensure that incidents like in the past are not repeated. The court asked the state government to give its representation in affidavit. Further hearing will take place on September 4.