Hardik Patel to sit on fast for reservation from Aug 25

AHMEDABAD: PAAS leader Hardik Patel on Sunday announced plans to sit on an indefinite hunger strike from August 25, the anniversary of the GMDC rally of 2015 that sparked the Patidar quota agitation and widespread violence leaving an indellible mark on the state’s current political scenario, with the death of 14 people.
Hardik said he will sit on the fast to seek quota rights for Patidars. Political leaders from across the country will attend the strike to express their solidarity with the cause, Hardik told TOI.

“From August 25 — the Patidar Kranti Divas — I will start an indefinite hunger strike seeking quota for the community. I will not break my fast until the government provides reservation to my community members. I do not care about my life, and think it’s time for the government to decide about the Patidar quota,” said Hardik, convener of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS).

Hardik claimed that thousands of people will join him either by observing symbolic fast for a day or by tonsuring their heads.

“I have not yet decided the venue for the strike, but I will definitely hold it in Ahmedabad and political leaders from across the country will come,” he said.

Hardik added, “This agitation will be historic like the one led by Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal seeking Janlokpal bill in Delhi.”

Hardik said that he had kept raising the reservation demand even after the 2017 state assembly polls and had asked both the BJP and Congress to make their stand clear on the issue.

“I have also talked with the Congress high command repeatedly on the quota issue and now I just want to see who are with us and who are against us,” said Hardik.

Hardik had gone silent on his core demand for the quota for quite some time and had been focusing on issues like right to education (RTE) and liquor prohibition. Sources close to him said that he has decided to relaunch the agitation as a precursor of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.