The Patels have escalated protests in Gujarat since last year demanding reservation in government jobs and education. (File Photo)
The Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti on Friday announced to intensify its agitation over the Patel quota issue, adding that it would invite prominent politicians from other states, including Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray to address the rallies.
The organisation, which is spearheading the Patel quota movement, said that it would organise several rallies till the end of this year to highlight their demands and the next round of agitation will start from Visnagar in Mehsana district on May 8.
The decision comes in the wake of Gujarat government's recent decision to provide 10 per cent reservation for Economically Backward Classes (EBC).
To chalk out their road map for the agitation, several PAAS leaders, including Akhilesh Katiyar, who is also the national general secretary of Patel Navnirman Sena (PNS), on Friday held a meeting near Gandhinagar.
Talking to reporters before the meet, Mr Katiyar rejected the 10 per cent reservation announced by the Gujarat government.
"We never demanded reservation under EBC quota. Since the beginning of our stir, we have been demanding inclusion of Patels under the OBC quota only. Since our demand is not fulfilled, we will intensify our stir in the coming months by involving national leaders," said Mr Katiyar.
Convener of Saurashtra unit of PAAS, Lalit Vasoya, said, "The next round of agitation will see presence of several national leaders, such as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray. They will be invited here to address rallies and gatherings in the coming months."
PAAS also plans to invite social activist Anna Hazare, Jat quota leader Yashpal Malik, Gujjar quota leader Colonel K S Bainsla as well as Himmatsinh.
"We will also take the agitation at national level by organizing a huge gathering in Delhi," he added.
After the meeting, PAAS released a list of rallies and gatherings they have planned to hold across Gujarat.
On May 8, Patels will hold a maha-panchayat in Visnagar, followed by foot-marches, rallies and gatherings in parts of the state at regular intervals till the end of December.