PAAS calls for 'lollipop' movement to protest Gujarat govt's Rs 1,000-crore package

While Hardik Patel has been restrained from making any public appearances, the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) have announced a 'lollipop' movement wherein lollipops will be distributed to the Patidar community members to protest against Gujarat government's Rs 1,000-crore package.

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel had on Thursday announced a special scheme -- Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavlamban Yojana (Chief Minister's Youth Self-Reliance Scheme) - that offers fee waiver to students from low-income families across communities. Targeted towards unreserved categories, the scheme was for those with family income of not more than Rs 4.5 lakh per annum.

However, the 22-year-old convenor of PAAS and the face of the Patidar agitation in Gujarat termed it a lollipop. "It is nothing but a lollipop being handed out to us. This was not what we were demanding as part of the agitation. Our demand is for reservation," Hardik Patel had stated.

Hardik Patel's announcement of a new movement comes at a time when the Gujarat High Court has ordered him to restrain from making public appearances till the next hearing on September 29 when he has been asked to appear before the court.

The order is part of the court's reprimand on Thursday to Hardik Patel and his lawyer BM Mangukia for taking "the court for a ride" by filing a petition past midnight earlier this week alleging that Hardik had been abducted and illegally detained by the Gujarat police.

The court has asked Hardik's lawyer to substantiate the allegations in its next hearing on September 29, observing that "prima facie we find that the whole purpose of the petition was a mere publicity." After his lawyer filed a habeas corpus on mysterious disappearance of Hardik Patel, the latter surfaced on Wednesday and held a press conference before he appeared before court.

Meanwhile, the other agitation group, Sardar Patel Group (SPG) has announced a 'sign a petition' movement wherein Patidar community members are being invited to sign a representation, which will be made to the OBC Commission for seeking reservation in the OBC category.