Vadodra: Hardik Patel, a 21-year-old politician who has suddenly grabbed headlines as the leader of a 40-day agitation in Gujarat, launched a sharp attack on the BJP government in the state today, accusing it of neglecting the Patel community.
Mr Patel is at the forefront of the influential community's demand for reservation in government jobs and admission to schools and colleges.
Made famous by videos posted on YouTube by his supporters in which he poses with weapons and is portrayed as a firebrand leader, Hardik Patel quite played the part at a rally in Vadodara today, challenging the government in a speech that had a 25,000-strong crowd cheering.
Virtually unknown two months ago, Hardik is causing the state government much concern. Attempts at talks with the protesting Patels, seen as a BJP votebank, have not yielded results. Hardik Patel, whose father is a BJP leader, says his Patidar Anamat Sangathan, which has now assumed a critical role in the ongoing agitation, owes allegiance to no political party.
"Our community has been deprived of various benefits... and despite being top rankers we don't get jobs... either you remove reservation or include us in OBCs (Other Backward Castes)" said Parth Patel.
Mr Patel is at the forefront of the influential community's demand for reservation in government jobs and admission to schools and colleges.
Made famous by videos posted on YouTube by his supporters in which he poses with weapons and is portrayed as a firebrand leader, Hardik Patel quite played the part at a rally in Vadodara today, challenging the government in a speech that had a 25,000-strong crowd cheering.
Virtually unknown two months ago, Hardik is causing the state government much concern. Attempts at talks with the protesting Patels, seen as a BJP votebank, have not yielded results. Hardik Patel, whose father is a BJP leader, says his Patidar Anamat Sangathan, which has now assumed a critical role in the ongoing agitation, owes allegiance to no political party.
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"Our community has been deprived of various benefits... and despite being top rankers we don't get jobs... either you remove reservation or include us in OBCs (Other Backward Castes)" said Parth Patel.
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