Guj govt softens stand, allows Patel to hold rally

Ahmedabad: The city police have permitted Patel community leaders demanding reservation under the OBC quota, to hold their rally at the GMDC ground here on August 25, officials said on Thursday. “Today, we gave permission to Patel community leaders to hold their rally at GMDC ground here on August 25,” Joint Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Vikas Sahay told PTI.  When asked whether any conditions were attached while granting the permission, the police official said, “They (Patel leaders) asked for permission to hold a rally for three lakh people and we have granted it”. However, Ketan Patel, a community leader, said that around 25 lakh people would participate in the rally to press for their demand of job reservations under the OBC quota. “Today, we received permission to hold our rally at GMDC ground here. When we began this movement for reservation, it was hard to get 50,000 people to our rallies.