Gujarat Elections 2017: Hardik Patel says if Congress promises reservation then no need to go any further

Following the meeting between the Congress and the Patidar Anamat Aandolan Samiti (PAAS) held in Rajkot on Monday, Patidar leader Hardik Patel said that it is prudent to trust the party which is not in power at the moment.

Patidar leaders met senior Gujarat Congress leaders including Gujarat Congress chief Bharat Sinh Solanki and termed the meeting a positive one. 

Patel said that both the parties will consult legal experts and lawyers having expertise over technicalities of reservation.       

“Reservation is an issue that is not just limited to the Patel community but every community of Gujarat and we are in talks with Congress because the ruling party is not willing to talk to us over crucial issues,” said Patel.

He accused the BJP of maligning the Patel community adding that the ruling party terms them as ‘Congress agents’ just because they are in talks with the Congress. He lashed out at the BJP for using the media to say that the state government has taken back the cases filed against the Patidar leaders whereas not a single case has been taken back.

“We only want our rights and nothing more. It is our agitation but it will benefit every other community in the state. The BJP has resorted to cheap tactics and bullying behavior,” said Patel. 

The PAAS will consult two retired judges over the issue. 

Asking how the Gujjar community got reservation he said if Congress promises reservation then there would be no need to go any further over this matter.

It has been reported that the Congress has promised that if it forms the government, it will withdraw all police cases against Patidar youth, including the sedition cases against Hardik Patel with immediate effect.

Patel said the ruling BJP fooled the Patidars by merely issuing a notification on reservation.

“Next meeting will be the last one,” added Patel.

Also read: Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017: AAP leaders join Congress, allege party supporting BJP

Also read: Gujarat polls 2017: Hardik Patel extends deadline for Congress after it agreed to take legal opinion on quota