Patels intensify stir over reservation issue

Intensifying agitation to demand inclusion of the Patel community in OBC category, its members today held rallies in parts of Gujarat.
In the city, a bike rally was organised.
"Around 10,000 Patels took part in today's rally, which covered almost 16 km inside the city. It started from Meghaninagar and ended in Sola area. This rally is a message to the government that we will not rest till we get reservation," one of the organisers Kaushik Patel claimed.
The event was held under the banner of Patidar Ekta Samiti, which works under Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (Patel Reservation Agitation Committee-PRAC), spearheading the state-wide agitation.

"Large number of Patels were also present during the protests in Mehsana, Vadodara and other places in Saurashtra today," convener of PRAC Hardik Patel claimed.
Meanwhile, the seven-member committee formed by the Gujarat government and headed by Health Minister Nitin Patel, officially invited the leaders of Sardar Patel Group (SPG) for talks on the issue by sending a letter to SPG leader Lalji Patel. They are asked to put up their demands before the committee tomorrow.

On Thursday, the state government had announced formation of a high-level committee comprising seven of its ministers to consider representations by communities demanding reservations under OBC quota.

Although SPG also demands reservation for Patels, it has not joined hands with Hardik Patel-led PRAC due to some previous differences. Therefore, the invitation sent to SPG has irked Hardik Patel, who has termed it as "divide and rule" tactic by the state government.
"Instead of inviting all the organisations fighting for Patel community, this government wants to create a rift between them by inviting only SPG. Why we (PRAC) are not invited yet? It shows that the government only wants to stall the agitation by hook or crook. They believe in the doctrine of divide and rule," Patel alleged.