OBC group to take out rally against Patels' quota demand

People from 70 villages surrounding Dandi to take same route as reverse Dandi March to counter Patidar quota claim

Members of Other Backward Class community under the banner of 'OBC Ekta Manch' will take out a rally tomorrow to register their protest against the 'reverse Dandi March' by the agitating Patel community, under their leader Hardik Patel, demanding quota.

"They (Patels) are going to hold a reverse Dandi March. To register our protest, people including women, children, men and elderly persons from 70 villages surrounding Dandi will hold a 'Pratikar Rally' against their march," OBC Ekta Manch president Alpesh Thakor told reporters here today.

Stating that the rally would be taken out on the same route as of the reverse Dandi March, Thakor said the march would be peaceful.

He, through his outfit, claims to protect the rights of Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC).

Earlier, Patel community members under the banner Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), headed by 22-year-old Hardik Patel, had held statewide agitation demanding that their community be included under OBC category for reservation, a move which the OBCs have vehemently opposed.

Hardik had last week announced to take out a reverse Dandhi March on Sunday from Dandi village to press for the demand.

"They call it a reverse Dandni March, but we will take out straight Dandi March. What they (Patel leaders) are doing is violation of Gandhian ideology," said Thakor.

"Mahatma Gandhi had taken out Dandi March to unite the country against the British rule, but Patel leaders are doing this (agitation) to spread violence and anarchy in the society and divide society on caste lines," he added.