Withdraw case against Patidar youth or be prepared for agitation: Congress Leader Hardik Patel

Gujarat Congress working president Hardik Patel on Monday warned the state government of a statewide agitation if no action is taken on withdrawal of pending criminal cases lodged against Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti members during 2015 Patidar reservation agitation.

Ahmedabad (Gujarat): Gujarat Congress working president Hardik Patel on Monday warned the state government of a statewide agitation if no action is taken on withdrawal of pending criminal cases lodged against Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti members during 2015 Patidar reservation agitation. "If there is no action on the government's behalf (on withdrawal of pending criminal cases lodged against Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti members during 2015 Patidar reservation agitation) before March 23, a statewide agitation will be held," Patel said.

The working president of Gujarat Congress has come up with a new strategy to withdraw the case during the Patidar agitation in Gujarat. "I want to talk to the government after a long time," Patel said. "The government is requested to understand the warning, but today I am trying to say that I am making this demand not as a leader or leader of the party but as an agitator of the society," Patel added.

"The movement was not only of the Patidar community but of people from all walks of life. Former Chief Minister and Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel then asked for the case to be withdrawn after March 2017. There were constant discussions with the community leaders to withdraw the case. Patel also withdrew 140 cases, but since then no case has been withdrawn. We have decided to launch a statewide agitation in the coming days," he said. Hardik Patel emerged as the leader of the agitation demanding reservation for the Patidar community in Gujarat in 2015.