OBC quota stir: Patidars gear up for show of strength at Ahmedabad rally

Community is eyeing participation from over 2.5 mn Patidars in the rally, which will be held at GMDC ground

Continuing its demand for other backward class (OBC) quota reservation in Gujarat, the Patidar (Patel) community is gearing up for its massive rally in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

In a major show of strength, the community, which is demanding other backward class (OBC) quota reservation from the Gujarat government, is anticipating participation from over 2.5 million Patidars in the rally which will be held at GMDC ground in the city.

While traffic and police personnel have been deployed in large numbers for beefing up security, the government machinery is on alert over how the rally could turn out. Community leaders have, however, ensured that all efforts will be made to conduct a peaceful rally with over 150,000 Patidar volunteers being deployed to ensure availability of potable water and take pre-emptive measures to avoid stampede.

However, the Gujarat government has been taking a stand against such a demand even as it is reaching out to community leaders for working out any alternative way to the situation. On Sunday, Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel ruled out any reservation for the otherwise socio-politically influential community of Patidars citing the Constitution and Supreme Court judgments.

The agitation, which began in late June this year, is being led by two major groups including Sardar Patel Group (SPG) and Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS).

Earlier, PAAS had led a massive rally in Surat which saw over 450,000 Patidars turning up on the road in the agitation.