Patidar leader Hardik Patel’s uncertain fast demanding reservation for the community in jobs and education comes to the 7th day (on Friday). The young leader publicized that he had now stopped taking even water.
In a recent statement, Hardik Patel said that though he has stopped eating food and taking water, he will never give up as he will keep on fighting till he clinches a victory by following the footprints of the great Mahatma Gandhi.
Several other Gujarat Congress leaders such as Kanu Kalsaria, former state Congress president Arjun Modhwadia and MLA Vikram Madam, stepped forward to meet Hardik and then backed him.
Following the meeting with Hardik, Modhwadia took a sly dig at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, stressing that if the government could have talks with separatists, then why not with Hardik Patel.
“I request the Gujarat and Central governments to hold talks with Hardik and find a solution. If our PM can go to Pakistan to meet (former PM) Nawaz Sharif, if talks can happen with separatists, then why not with Hardik?” Modhwadia questioned.
Kalsaria alleged that cops were restricting people from entering Hardik’s residence. The 25-year-old quota spearhead kick-started his hunger strike on August 25 on the 3rd anniversary of his mega pro-quota rally in Ahmedabad which turned out to be a violent one.
He is demanding a loan waiver for the farmers of Gujarat and inclusion of his community in the “OBC category” to make easier in reservation for its members in government jobs and educational institutions.
Hardik started his fast from his residence following the authorities in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar denied allotting venue.
(With inputs from PTI)