Congress gives three reservation options for Patidar to Hardik Patel

The Congress gave three options to the Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Sndolan Samiti (PASS) on how reservation will be provided to the Patidar community in educational institutions and government jobs at a late night meeting in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.                               

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal conveyed the three options to PAAS members in a meeting which started around 11:30pm and ended at about 2am.

Dinesh Bambhania, a PAAS convener, soon after the meeting talking to media said, “The Congress party gave us three options on how reservations in educational institution and government jobs will be provided to us.”

Bambhania denied revealing the details of the meeting or the three options given to them by the Congress. “We will keep the options confidential till we discuss it with Hardik, senior leaders, legal experts and social leaders of our community,” added the PASS convener.

He further added that the proposal given by the Congress has not touched 49 percent reservation for SC, ST and OBC which exists in the state. “The options provided are over and above current 49 percent quota.”

Bambhania also added that they have rejected Congress’s reservation offer under the Economically Backward Class.

Sibal in a press conference said, “Today’s meeting between Congress and PAAS has brought hope than something can be worked out. We have discussed all the aspects and will do things to provide reservation to the Patidar community as per the constitution.”

The Congress leader further added that he will meet the Patidar leaders in the next two-three days. “We expect that things will become more clear in the next meeting.”

Also read: Gujarat elections: Patidar movement leader Nikhil Savani quits Bharatiya Janata Party, accuses party of bribery

The meeting was held between Congress and PASS to discuss the modalities of providing reservation to Patidars if voted to power in the upcoming Assembly polls in Gujarat.

Also read: Gujarat elections: Congress demands judicial enquiry into ‘bribery of Patidar leaders by BJP’

Hardik Patel had set November 7 as the deadline for the Congress to make its stand clear on the Patidar reservation issue.