The Patel community representatives headed by Hardik Patel met with a Gujarat state government team, including chief minister Anandiben Patel, in a meeting that lasted 5 hours but resulted in a failure of compromise. The Patel Anamat Andolan Samiti following the meeting, announced that they would continue their agitation, including an “Ekta Yatra” on September 19. He said, the community will also hold “maha sabhas' at five different locations. Hardik Patel spoke to the media, insisting that the meeting “could not be called a flop show” even though the government did not agree to their demands.
Health Minister Nitin Patel spoke to reporters and said the PAAS had agreed for yet another round of talks. “They have asked government to look into their issues in 10 days and also said they would not intensify their protest.” He said the CID would investigate the issue “as per the High Court order” and see if “innocents have been framed.” He assured that the meeting was satisfactory and held in a peaceful environment. The Patidars demanded suspension of officers who ordered lathicharge on August 25, imposition of murder charges on officers under whose jurisdictions Patels died, release of the members of the community caught for attempted murder and rioting and, free treatment of all those injured. Hardik said as per decision taken by 144 conveners of the commyunty, reservation issue was not discussed. The key agenda was to demand action against cops for atrocities including registration of murder charge against cops in areas where Patel youth were killed.
Before the meeting, Hardik Patel met with former chief minister Keshubhai Patel at his residence to ask for their blessings. Rival groups PAAS and SPG leaders, Hardik Patel and Lalji Patel called truce and buried their difference to unify and fight together for reservation. Both the leaders jointly insisted that chief minister Anandiben Patel meet with all 144 of their conveners in the meeting. However, a 14 member delegation was finalised, who met with the government which was represented by ministers Saurabh Patel, Bhupendrasinh Chudasma, Vijay Rupani, Rajnikant Patel and Nitin Patel. State finance minister Saurabh Patel played an important role in convincing the community to postpone their reservation rally from Dandi, dubbed the 'Ekta Yatra'. PAAS convenor from Surat, Alpesh Kathiriya said, “Saurabh Patel had contacted us and talked with us on phone. We now have decided to postpone the march from Dandi to Sabarmati Ashram.” He further said, “New dates will be announced after a meeting between Hardik Patel and chief minister Anandiben Patel at her residence in Gandhinagar on Monday.” Confirming the decision, Saurabh Patel said, “I spoke to Hardik over phone and following this they have postponed the march. They will also meet CM on Monday.”
Meanwhile, all the hullabaloo over the reservation rights for Patel has mirrored across the seas in the US where the Patidars have unified to support their community in Gujarat. To be reflected highly during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's US visit that begins on September 23, Patels settled in the United States have joined under the Overseas Patidar Andolan Samiti, chalking out detailed plans of protest which will commence when Modi lands on American soil. Tejas Patel, convener of OPAS said, “We have got permission from US authorities for the 3.5 km march from United Nation headquarters to the Indian Consulate office in New York.” The Patels also plan to register their protest by wearing black clothes and showing black flags to Modi. Baldev Patel, leader of the 42-Gam Kadva Patidar Samaj, US chapter, said, “Last time we rolled a red carpet for the PM, but this time he would face protest from the community .”
Satish Patel, OPAS leader, said, “We had collected funds for Modi's last visit. This money we have demanded back from Bharat Barai, a close confidant of Modi and a leader of the Global Indians for Bharat Vikas' association.”
Parallely, women of the community have raised their voices against BJP leaders, not allowing them to speak in social or government organised events. Gujarat Minister of State Rajni Patel bore the brunt of several angry women who clanked spoons or rolling pins against plate in protest, not allowing him to speak in a district panchayat organised event.
Also targeted were Minister Ramanlal Vors when the Patel community boycotted his event and prominent BJP leader Purushottam Rupala, who was booed by hundreds of women, forcing him to leave event venues in Unjha and Patan towns. “The government has to give us reservation benefits otherwise the protest will continue. This has become a mass movement as people are fed up with the politicians who take them for granted,” said Rakesh Patel from Unjha town.
