Hardik Patel addresses the media in Delhi on August 30.
Hardik Patel's allegation that caste reservation in admission to medical colleges in Gujarat deals a grave blow to the prospects of aspiring doctors from his Patel community, does not seem to hold up to a scrutiny of data.
The 22-year-old has alleged in hard-hitting speeches that those on quota lists with even 45 per cent marks in entrance tests have made it to medical colleges, depriving many Patel candidates with much higher marks of a place.
But statistics suggest that the Patels have in fact done well. Of 4,200 seats in medicine, dental surgery and nursing courses available this year, over a 1,000 went to Patel candidates, shows data from Gujarat's Admission Committee for Professional Medical Educational Courses.
Also, the difference between the cut-off marks for aspirants who get the benefit of reservation and for those who don't, has been no more than 6 per cent in the last three years; no one with less than 84 per cent has got admission to the state's medical colleges, records shows.
This year, candidates in the general category, including Patels, had to score 95 per cent to get admission to a medical college. Among those who get reservation, aspirants from Other Backward Castes (OBC) needed 91 per cent and from Scheduled Castes and Tribes, 89 per cent.
Hardik Patel, who has shot to fame as the face of a massive agitation, wants quota in government jobs and colleges for the wealthy and influential Patels too. That alone, he argues, will give them a level playing field in the state.
Other groups already included in the quota list strongly oppose this and accuse him of running a misleading campaign. "There is a mere 3 to 4 per cent difference between cut-offs for general and OBC categories in medical colleges," said Dalit activist Jignesh Mewani.
Hardik Patel dismissed the stats. "You are talking about 2015... I will get you data from 2011 - 12 - 13 - 14...I will get you the reports later...any more questions?" he said.