The Gujarat government on Tuesday held a meeting with Patidar community leaders as part of its efforts to persuade Hardik Patel to end his fast, amid increasing support to his protest from national leaders.
A group of Ministers, including Saurabh Patel, Kaushik Patel and Pradipsinh Jadeja, met with representatives of the Patidar community, on a day when senior BJP parliamentarian Shatrughan Sinha, former finance minister Yashwant Sinha and former Gujarat Chief Minister Suresh Mehta visited Hardik and announced their support for the issues he is fighting for.
The 25-year-old convener of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) has lost 20 kg since he started his fast 11 days ago and there is rising concern about his deteriorating health.
Ever since he started his fast to press for reservations for his community and farm loan waiver, several top leaders like Dinesh Trivedi of the TMC, Praful Patel of the NCP, former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and a top Congress leaders have visited him and pledged their support to his fight.
“We too have been fighting on behalf of the farmers. Now, we will take his fight nationally,” said Yashwant Sinha. “The government must talk to him... His demand for farm loan waiver is completely justified,” said Mr. Shatrughan Sinha.
Meanwhile, the Patidar community leaders are mounting pressure on the government to start talks with Mr Patel. “He has not had food for 11 days and in between he did not have even water for two days. His organs will be irreparably damaged if he does not end his fast soon,” a key leader told The Hindu.