Ahmedabad: The Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) announced that its leader would stop taking water in case the BJP government of Gujarat did not agree to hold talks with him in the coming next 24 hours. The warning comes amid Hardik Patel’s indefinite fast entered the 12th day.
PAAS convener Manoj Panara made the announcement at Hardik’s house located on the outskirts of Ahmedabad and stressed that the government representatives need to come to the fast venue and hold talks with the Patidar leader.
Due to his prolonged fast, Hardik Patel’s health seems to be deteriorating, but till now there is no sign of initiation of talks from the government side to find a solution to the problem, he said.
“If the government does not start talks with Hardik in the next 24 hours, he will stop drinking water. The entire state and its people are worried about him and praying for him, but it seems the government is not at all concerned,” Mr. Panara said.
The association warned that once its leader stops taking water, Hardik will never drink water again until the government starts talks, he said.
“Our doors are open for talks. But government representatives need to come to the fast venue to hold talks with Hardik directly. Hardik does not want to talk in the air-conditioned chambers of government representatives,” he said.
The quota leader had in last week given up water for two days, but was persuaded by his supporters to start taking water and did that time.
While referring to the meeting on Tuesday between state ministers and a delegation of some Patidar leaders in Gandhinagar, Mr. Pananra alleged the central government was making an attempt to mislead people by claiming that the mediation process had already started.
“The government falsely claimed that talks have started. This is an attempt to mislead people. What is the use of such talks when no one approaches Hardik to brief him what exactly transpired during the talks?” the PAAS convener said.
The hunger strike by Hardik Patel started on August 25 from his residential place and he sought for a loan waiver for all Gujarat farmers and reservation for the Patidar community in jobs and education under the present OBC quota.
The Patidar community is one of many castes living in the state of Gujarat, India. The caste was recognized during the 1931 census of India as a separate identity and it was previously classified as Kanbi.
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