22-year-old Hardik Patel, until recently an unknown name in the political and social scene in Gujarat, suddenly took centre stage and became the cynosure of all eyes, as his organisation Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) organised one of the largest gatherings ever of the Patel community in Ahmedabad on 25 August, to call for their inclusion in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list.
For a young man just out of college and one who was a non-entity even within his own community just a few months back to suddenly become the voice of the ‘Patels’, has left many people gasping in the colorful political space in Gujarat. Yesterday’s rally was a clear announcement that this young man has arrived and was not going to let go the chance without ensuring his call for inclusion of the Patel community in the OBC list reached the right ears in Delhi.
His fiery speech yesterday saw an angry young man call out to his community for support while warning the powers that be in the state of Gujarat and the centre that he and his community were willing to go to any length for ensuring that their demands were met. Hitting out at the PM himself and the BJP, without mincing words he announced that the 2019 elections would not be won by the BJP unless they accept the Patel community’s demand for inclusion as OBC.
The rally was attended by over 3 lakh people, and on the back of a high decibel speech, tension was running high at the venue. The crowd grew restless and finally the Police had to swing into action with a lathicharge. Hardik Patel was arrested as a preventive measure but released by evening. However, the move backfired, triggering a series of spontaneous but violent protests in Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Surat and Rajkot. Although, he was released the same evening, the damage had been done.
Modi’s entire effort of two terms as CM to portray Gujarat as a land that was peaceful, stable and business friendly was gone. Curfew has now been introduced in many parts and the Centre today was rushing in 5000 paramilitary forces to contain the situation from further deteriorating. All educational institutions have been shut today as a precautionary measure.
The seriousness of the threat of the situation getting out of hand can be gauged by the fact that PM Modi, who has recently been silent on most issues, has been forced to come out with a statement today to try and calm nerves and has called for restraint from all stakeholders.
22-year-old Hardik Patel, until recently an unknown name in the political and social scene in Gujarat, suddenly took centre stage and became the cynosure of all eyes, as his organisation Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) organised one of the largest gatherings ever of the Patel community in Ahmedabad on 25 August, to call for their inclusion in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list.
For a young man just out of college and one who was a non-entity even within his own community just a few months back to suddenly become the voice of the ‘Patels’, has left many people gasping in the colorful political space in Gujarat. Yesterday’s rally was a clear announcement that this young man has arrived and was not going to let go the chance without ensuring his call for inclusion of the Patel community in the OBC list reached the right ears in Delhi.
His fiery speech yesterday saw an angry young man call out to his community for support while warning the powers that be in the state of Gujarat and the centre that he and his community were willing to go to any length for ensuring that their demands were met. Hitting out at the PM himself and the BJP, without mincing words he announced that the 2019 elections would not be won by the BJP unless they accept the Patel community’s demand for inclusion as OBC.
The rally was attended by over 3 lakh people, and on the back of a high decibel speech, tension was running high at the venue. The crowd grew restless and finally the Police had to swing into action with a lathicharge. Hardik Patel was arrested as a preventive measure but released by evening. However, the move backfired, triggering a series of spontaneous but violent protests in Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Surat and Rajkot. Although, he was released the same evening, the damage had been done.
Modi’s entire effort of two terms as CM to portray Gujarat as a land that was peaceful, stable and business friendly was gone. Curfew has now been introduced in many parts and the Centre today was rushing in 5000 paramilitary forces to contain the situation from further deteriorating. All educational institutions have been shut today as a precautionary measure.
The seriousness of the threat of the situation getting out of hand can be gauged by the fact that PM Modi, who has recently been silent on most issues, has been forced to come out with a statement today to try and calm nerves and has called for restraint from all stakeholders.
