Ahmedabad: What began as a massive show of strength by the Patel community led by 21-year-old Hardik Patel in Ahmedabad on Tuesday morning, was threatening to fall apart by the afternoon, with another faction airing its differences with the young leader in public.
Also in the afternoon, some protestors demanding quota in jobs and education, clashed with a group against the Patels' inclusion in the list of economically and socially weaker sections.
Both sides threw stones and the police had to use batons and tear gas to control them. The Patel protestors, led by Hardik Patel, were on their way back from the city collector's office.
Hours earlier, he had put the state's BJP government on notice in a hard-hitting speech at a rally attended by around 2 lakh people. "If this government does not heed our demands, the lotus will not bloom in 2017," he said.
As Hardik Patel announced a 48-hour hunger-strike, demanding Chief Minister Anandiben Patel reach out to the protestors, another leader of the movement, Lalji Patel, seemed surprised.
The Patel demand for inclusion in the state's OBC list is opposed by groups already on it. The Supreme Court has ruled that reservations cannot cross the 50 per cent mark and Gujarat has already reached that limit. The less prosperous OBC groups have threatened to oppose any further division of their quota.
Also in the afternoon, some protestors demanding quota in jobs and education, clashed with a group against the Patels' inclusion in the list of economically and socially weaker sections.
Both sides threw stones and the police had to use batons and tear gas to control them. The Patel protestors, led by Hardik Patel, were on their way back from the city collector's office.
Hours earlier, he had put the state's BJP government on notice in a hard-hitting speech at a rally attended by around 2 lakh people. "If this government does not heed our demands, the lotus will not bloom in 2017," he said.
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As Hardik Patel announced a 48-hour hunger-strike, demanding Chief Minister Anandiben Patel reach out to the protestors, another leader of the movement, Lalji Patel, seemed surprised.
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The Patel demand for inclusion in the state's OBC list is opposed by groups already on it. The Supreme Court has ruled that reservations cannot cross the 50 per cent mark and Gujarat has already reached that limit. The less prosperous OBC groups have threatened to oppose any further division of their quota.
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