NEW DELHI: The ‘Role model’ state of Gujarat has turned into a Kashmir with the Army fanning into violence hit areas, curfew imposed in most cities of the state, and mobile services and the internet shut down as the state and central governments try to cope with 22 year old Hardik Patel and his supporters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been silent on most issues including the recently called off India Pakistan talks, has appealed to the people of Gujarat to keep calm. So has the state chief minister Anandiben Patel. However, Hardik Patel is not prepared to back off from his demand for reservations for the Patel community giving a 48 hour ultimatum to the government to meet the demand for reservations.
He blamed the police for the violence that has paralysed Gujarat maintaining, "They (Police) are indulging in violence. Police is beating mothers, sisters and small children. They are doing it the same way it is done in UP and Bihar.”
Political support has poured in for the Patidars from Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, and former Aam Aadmi leader Yogendra Yadav amongst others. Varun Patel who is managing the Patidar Anamat Andolan and is seen as the right hand of Hardik Patel told The Citizen from Ahmedabad, “ Patidaro ka haq to le ke rahenge, agar nahin milega to cheen lenge.”We will secure our rights no matter what, if the government will not give it to us, we will snatch it).
He said that there was no questioning of calling off the stir until the single point demand is conceded. “We are Patels. And I assure you with 15-20 lakh people yesterday there was not even a bit of unruly behavior or any lawlessness. The lawlessness started when police suddenly came into the picture and started lathi charge. Who is behind this that is not known to us. Whether the government is trying to do it or the police is behind this action is unknown so far. But they will not allowed to create a false impression about our movement,” Varun Patel said.
He said so far the government had not contacted them at any level. “ There is absolutely no communication from the other side. There is no invite from the government. No one has approached us so far”, he said.
Varun Patel spoke of a calibrated approach with the single focus of realising the demand. “Our first aim is to restore peace. When that is ensured, and everything returns to normal we will carry on with our agenda for reservations. See Patidars are peaceful people and we have not disrupted peace in any given situation. Who was behind the disruptions and lawlessness that is a subject of investigation. But we are determined about carrying on with our aim peacefully,” Varun Patel said.
Schools and colleges have been closed in several cities in Gujarat. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has been in close touch with state Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and sent in the paramilitary forces. The Congress party has noted the agitation as the failure of PM Modi’s Gujarat model.