New Delhi : Patel community leader Hardik Patel on Sunday announced his intention to join hands with other communities to launch a nationwide movement for reservation in education and jobs, while criticizing the current government policy.
He asserted he will continue to fight for the poor people in his Patel/Patidar community. “We are demanding reservation for the 95 percent poor people belonging to the Patel community. So the entire community should demand it, isn’t it? Only five percent of Patidar community is prosperous, not the entire community,” the Patidar Arakshan Andolan Samiti convener told media persons after arriving here from Gujarat. “In my community, 95 percent people are poor. About 10,000 farmers belonging to our community committed suicide in the last decade. I am fighting for them. If other communities come forward, I’ll support them as well… I am talking to everyone,” he said.
Patel claimed that because of the current reservation policy, “the country has gone back 60 years. If you want to give reservation then give it to all… Reservation should be giving to meritorious students and deserving candidates, who deserve reservation but don’t get it. “The day a proper blueprint of reservation policy is drafted, that day, many can become a part of the country’s development. If this done, then (India) will turn into a superpower ahead of China.”
Patel came here on the invitation of Gujjar and Kurmi communities, which had organised a meeting at the Gujjar Bhavan in Kotla village. “I had come to Delhi on the invitation of Gujjar and Kurmi communities in Delhi. They are our brothers and had arranged a sabha here. Very soon the movement will gain ground in the capital. It is marathon struggle and will go on for 1-2 years… They will support us and when need be will block the National Highway,” he said.
On future plans, he said: “Very soon a ‘maharally’ will be organised in Lucknow. We will also call the Patels from across the country at Jantar Mantar here. We’ll continue to fight for our rights till we achieve success. We will launch our struggle in 12 states initially.
