Hardik vows to continue fast for quota; more support pours in

Press Trust of India  |  Ahmedabad 

As his hunger strike entered the third day today, vowed to continue his fast till his demands for quota for his community members and loan waiver for farmers were met.

Apart from some local leaders and MLAs, Kapil Patil, a member of the Legislative Council, met at his residence near here, where he is on an indefinite fast, and extended their support to him.

Patil is a of the Loktantrik

Talking to the media, claimed a large number of his supporters were trying to reach his residence, but the police were preventing them from coming here.

"Even sitting MLAs are being prevented from coming to my residence. This BJP government and its police are trying their best to stop this agitation. This situation is worse than what it was during the British Raj," he alleged.

"I know the police are working at the behest of the BJP government. But, I want to tell you that no one can stop us now. I am still fit and my hunger strike will continue till both my demands are met," he said.

The 25-year-old urged his supporters to sit on fast at their respective villages and towns if they are unable to reach his residence.

Hardik Patel started his hunger strike on August 25, that had turned violent.

He is demanding a loan waiver for farmers and inclusion of his community in the OBC category to facilitate reservation for its members in government jobs and education.

Hardik Patel launched his fast from his residence after authorities in Ahmedabad as well as Gandhinagar refused to allot a place for the hunger strike.

Yesterday, former railway Dinesh Trivedi, representatives of the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led Rashtriya and the Hindustani Awam Morcha of former had called on him to extend their support.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Mon, August 27 2018. 21:25 IST