Patel quota leader Lalji seeks leniency for jailed leaders

Patel quota agitation leader Lalji Patel today asked the Gujarat government to take a "lenient view" towards jailed Patidar leaders like Hardik Patel.
Lalji, president of quota body Sardar Patel Group (SPG), today called upon senior state ministers Nitin Patel and Vijay Rupani at Gandhinagar and requested them to ensure release of Hardik and others who are still behind bars.
"Our main issue of discussion with ministers was about the release of those Patel leaders who are still behind bars. Just like the government showed a positive approach and did not oppose my bail plea two days back, we requested government to show similar lenient approach for those who are still behind bars," he said.

Nitin Patel, who holds the Health portfolio besides being a government spokesperson, told reporters that Lalji met him and Rupani, also the state unit BJP chief.
"Lalji thanked us for not opposing his bail plea. He also expressed gratitude for 'Yuva Swavlamban Scheme' and 10 per cent EBC reservation announced by government as thousands of general category youths are now getting benefit under these schemes," Nitin said.
Lalji had been arrested in the wake of the violence in his April 17 rally in Mehsana. Two days ago, a court in Mehsana granted him bail in a case of rioting and arson registered against him during a "jail bharo" rally organised by SPG to pressurise government to release Hardik and other leaders.

Lalji, whose SPG works closely with Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) to get OBC status for Patidars, said government should take a lenient view towards jailed Patel leaders like Hardik.

He said other demands put forward during the meeting with ministers included raising the quota for economically backward classes (EBC) among upper castes in the state to 20 per cent from current 10 per cent.
"During the meeting, we also requested the government to take the EBC quota up to 20 per cent. We requested government to withdraw cases filed against Patel leaders during the 'Jail Bharo' rally as well as during the quota stir in August last year," he said.

Hardik has been in jail since his arrest last year under sedition charges in the wake of violent stir for the cause of reservation to Patidars.