File Picture Courtesy : Financial Express
The suspense is finally over whether, Hardik Patel will side with the Congress or not. Patidar leader Hardik Patel has said the Patidar group has accepted Congress’s formula to give reservation to the Patidar community at par with OBC. Patel was addressing a press conference, according to various media reports.
“I will not join any political party, but I will ask my supporters don’t vote for the BJP,” said the PAAS leader after keeping everyone in suspense for the last 48 hours.
The convenor of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), who is being wooed by the Congress for a partnership in the upcoming Gujarat elections, said, “We accept formula given by Congress party to give reservation at par with OBC to non-reserved categories,” adding, “Congress people are not our cousins, but when they speak about our rights we have to listen to it. And the formula they have offered is plausible.”
Patidars were met with arguments from several opponents in the past that total reservations cannot be over 50 per cent. However, quashing such arguments, Patel said: “Nowhere in the Indian constitution it is written that more than 50 per cent reservation cannot be given.”
Showing confidence in Congress’ promise, Patel said, “Congress has promised to put its formula to give reservation to non-reserved categories in its election manifesto.”
“I am not ‘bikau’. Otherwise I could have accepted offer of Rs 1200 crore from K Kailashnathan (Chief Principal Secretary to Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani) when I was in jail,” Patel alleged.
“Congress has accepted our issues. They have agreed to give Patidars reservations,” ANI quoted Patel as saying. He added that the party has “agreed to give Patidars reservations under section 31 and provisions of section 46 and it will bring in a bill when they come in power in Gujarat.
He didn’t extend support to the Congress party, however indicated the fight against the BJP will effectively result in the same. “We are not openly extending support to Congress, but we will fight BJP. So directly or indirectly, there will be support to Congress,” he said.
Patel declined speculation that he is joining any party or that his outfit has asked for any seats in a coalition in the upcoming polls, he said, “We have never appealed to anyone to vote for Congress, but since they are talking about our rights, we leave it on people to decide.”
