PAAS, Cong stitch up ties for Gujarat polls

With 24-year-old pro-quota stir leader Hardik Patel dropping his original demand for job reservation for the Patidar community under the OBC category, the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and the Congress finally joined hands for the upcoming Assembly polls.

Talking to the media, PAAS leader Hardik Patel said the Congress has accepted demand for reservation not only for Patidars but also for all other unreserved communities. He said the Congress agreed to give them similar benefits as enjoyed by OBCs within the constitutional framework.

“The Congress has promised to pass a proposal without changing existing 49 per cent quotas for SC/ST and OBC categories. Patidars and other unreserved communities can be given reservation beyond 50 per cent constitutionally,” he said.

The young quota stir leader claimed that as per the formula worked out between the two parties, the Opposition party promised to give benefits to unreserved communities under Article 15(4) and Article 16(4). According to him a special category could be created and the State Government (Congress-led, if voted to power) would talk to all stakeholders by setting up a commission. The Congress would put details of reservation formula in its manifesto for the upcoming Gujarat polls, he said, adding that the Congress has given commitment to undertake a survey among Patidars and other communities seeking reservation.

On the fact that the Supreme Court does not allow reservation beyond 50 per cent, he said that nowhere in the Constitution it has been mention that quotas beyond 50 per cent wouldn’t be allowed. According to him, the apex court had only given its remarks and there is no

law and provision in the Constitution. Many States, including Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, had given quotas beyond 50 per cent, he claimed.

Obviously, Hardik tried to involve other organisations of Patel community regarding the agreement saying that he has informed religious organisations — Umiyadham and Khodaldham as well as community leaders. When contacted both the major

organisations of Patidars showed their ignorance about the said formula.

Paresh Gajera, who is heading Khodaldham trust, said that when he received details of the formula he would be able to react on it. Gajera further said that his organisation wouldn’t support any political party. Chairman of the Umiyadham Vikram Patel termed the Patidar leader a liar saying Hardik  didn’t inform him or any other trustees.

Meanwhile, both Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel accused Hardik of engaging in deception and fooling the people of the State.

Soon after Hardik announced to support the Congress in the ensuing Assembly polls, Nitin Patel claimed that Hardik dropped the basic demand of getting reservation under OBC category for the Patidar community and joined hands with the Congress. It showed that his agitation was pre-planned and Hardik was reading the scripts written by the Congress leaders.

Patel accused the 24-year-old pro-quota leader of misguiding members of Patidar community as reservation beyond 50 per cent is not possible constitutionally. “Now Hardik has been exposed. His late night meetings with the Congress leaders were nothing but just a drama. He is dividing Patidar community for his personal interest,” he added.

“You (Hardik) will not be able to show your face. Your name would be written in black letters in history of community as you have shown poisonous seeds to divide community. Now, Patidars are fighting with each other, just because of you,” said Patel.

Terming the alliance between the Congress and Hardik Patel “as mutual deception”, Jaitley said the claim of finding ways to increase the reservation cap above 50 per cent is just bogus. Citing that many times courts have struck down these kind of laws enacted on the eve of polls, Jaitley said both the Congress and Patel engaged in lies knowing the truth.

“From the statements that I have seen, the Congress-Hardik club is one of mutual deception. The law of the land is very clear and that has been laid down by the Supreme Court. It says that 50 per cent cap cannot be breached. By saying that they (Hardik Patel and Congress) will arrive at a solution, they are deceiving each other as well as the voters,” said Jaitely. He was addressing a Press conference to brief the mediapersons about the decisions taken by the Cabinet.

He said that in elections, only those promises should be made to the electorate which are capable of being implemented otherwise it amounted to deceiving one’s constituents. Jailtey also blamed the Youth Congress for making “chai wala’ jibes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“These things show that the Congress has not yet learned lesson. Indian democracy has shown people from humble backgrounds can reach the top positions. Still the Congress think these all belong to people from dynasty,” he said.