Patel quota stir acquiring political colour: Amit Shah


Team Udayavani, Sep 10, 2017, 2:08 PM IST

Ahmedabad :  BJP chief Amit Shah today said organisers of the Patel quota stir in Gujarat were leaning towards “one political party”, an apparent reference to the Opposition Congress. He said the reservation agitation was acquiring political colour as state assembly elections, slated to be held later this year, approached.

The BJP president was here to take questions from the youth at a programme called ‘Adikham Gujarat’ or Resolute Gujarat. Asked by a participant how the BJP government was dealing with the Patidar agitation for reservations under the OBC category, Shah said the BJP government had asked the protesters, led by Hardik Patel, to follow the “legal process” but the “direction of the agitation changed”.

“Observe the development and you will realise that slowly it has become an agitation backed by one political party. People had joined the agitation emotionally but the organisers are leaning towards one political party,” he said. Shah said his party’s government in Gujarat tried to persuade the agitators to follow the legal process to achieve their goal.

“As per the main demand of the Patidar agitation, if a caste has to be included in the OBC category, that caste can submit an application to the OBC commission,” he said. Only after its recommendation can the caste get a place in that category, he added. “But unfortunately, the direction of the agitation was changed… As the election approaches, you will see that slowly the issue will become political,” he said.

Shah said under a Supreme Court ruling, reservation cannot exceed 50 per cent. While reservation for SC and ST candidates was Constitutionally binding and no state government could change it, for a caste to find a place under the OBC category, it had to go through a procedure of submitting an application to the OBC Commission, he said.

Shah’s comment comes in the backdrop of Hardik Patel recently dropping hints of supporting the Congress in the assembly elections. Since 2015, the Patidars (Patels) have been agitating for inclusion of the community under the OBC category for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Maharashtra Polls: Eknath Shinde targets Uddhav for `giving up’ Bal Thackeray’s principles for power

Will appear before Lokayukta for questioning in MUDA case, says CM Siddaramaiah

Lies have short life, Cong’s ‘fake’ narrative smashed: Fadnavis

Temple idols found desecrated in Hyderabad, case registered

SC junks plea against quashing of LOC issued to ex-house help of Sushant Singh Rajput

JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal to visit K’taka on Nov 7 to meet farmers protesting Waqf notices

Indian boxer Mandeep Jangra wins WBF’s world title

Related Articles More

Maharashtra Polls: Eknath Shinde targets Uddhav for `giving up’ Bal Thackeray’s principles for power

CBI forms SIT to probe into Tirupati laddu adulteration allegations

Out on bail, murder accused shoots dead wife, three children in Varanasi

Delhi: Man held for killing brother-in-law for ‘ill-treating’ his sister

Lies have short life, Cong’s ‘fake’ narrative smashed: Fadnavis

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Waqf Issue: JPC chair Jagdambika Pal to visit Hubballi, Vijayapura on November 7

Maharashtra Polls: Eknath Shinde targets Uddhav for `giving up’ Bal Thackeray’s principles for power

Shivamogga: Wild elephant dies due to electrocution form farm fence; Landowner detained

Folk singer Sharda Sinha’s condition critical, PM in direct contact with treating doctors

Weight loss could help one manage PCOS symptoms, study suggests

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.