Patidar reservation: Patel group leader Lalji visits 'fasting' Hardik Patel

Patidar leader Hardik Patel, who is on an indefinite hunger strike demanding reservation for his community, got a shot in the arm on the eighth day of his fast when Sardar Patel Group (SPG) leader Lalji Patel visited him at his residence on the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

Hardik Patel had come out of Lalji's shadow a few years ago, though he was, initially, part of the SPG. The two had been having a strained relationship ever since.

On August 25, 2015, when Hardik Patel addressed the rally at the Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) Ground in Ahmedabad, the tension between them grew as he, initially, did not allow Lalji to share the stage with him. It was only after SPG supporters made a hue and cry that Hardik Patel relented.

He began his fast on August 25, which marked three years of the rally. Fourteen Patidars had lost their lives when violence broke out after the rally.

Hardik Patel has been demanding reservation in jobs and education for Patidars. He is also demanding loan waiver for farmers.

Other leaders like Congress Rajya Sabha members Madhusudhan Mistry and Ami Yagnik, and Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda, too, visited Hardik on Saturday.

After abstaining from drinking water for two days, Hardik Patel finally drank water at the hands of S.P. Swami, a priest from Ghadhada.

He also had an unexpected visitor—Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar. He, however, did not meet her, while PAAS supporters shouted slogans asking her to go back.

Speaking to mediapersons after meeting Hardik Patel, Lalji said that the government should be ready to face consequences in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections if it ignored the Patidars. He reminded the government of the 2017 assembly elections.

He said that he told Hardik Patel that they would be able take the fight further only if he took care of his health.

Hardik Patel took to social media and said that he is aiming at a revolution of sorts among the masses and “demolish the proud of the BJP”.

PAAS released a medical statement, reportedly signed by Hardik Patel's personal doctor Dr Abhay Raj.

Raj, in a statement, has termed Hardik Patel's condition critical considering an infection in his kidney.