After playing hide-and-seek for days in the face of ongoing turmoil, Patidar leader Hardik Patel surfaced here on Wednesday to announce that the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) has accepted the proposals of the Congress to provide reservation to the community. His opposition to the ruling BJP could be construed as “indirect” support to the Congress in the Gujarat Assembly elections next month, he added.
In the wake of recent desertions from the 11-member PAAS conveners’ committee, and amid speculation that Hardik may disband the disintegrating outfit, he said at a crowded press conference here that he will constitute a “new committee” on Thursday. “I am not joining any political party for the next two-and-a-half years,” he added.
The Congress has accepted the PAAS demand to provide benefits on par with those extended constitutionally to OBCs, SCs and STs, without disturbing the existing 49 per cent cap. For this, the Congress, if it comes to power in Gujarat, will pass a Bill in the Vidhan Sabha under Articles 31-C and 46 of the Constitution, said Hardik.
The State government will constitute a commission in consultation with the stakeholders of all the communities to be included in the “special category”. Also, the Congress will set up a ‘Sawarna Aayog’ (commission for the upper castes) to extend support to provide equal opportunity. All these points will form part of the Congress manifesto, he further said.
Nowhere does the Constitution say that more than 50 per cent reservation should not be provided, he claimed, adding: “The Supreme Court has only suggested on this. And nine States surpassed this cap since 1994 while adding new communities to the reservation category. In Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, such reservation continued for 15-17 years. ”
Hardik said he had accepted the Congress “formula” after discussing it with key religious organisations of the community, such as Khodaldham and Umiyadham. “We have informed them, and now we are telling you that we have accepted the Congress formula,” he said.
Interestingly, the heads of both these organisations have denied receiving the details.Paresh Gajera, head of Khodaldham Trust, said he will get legal opinion on the formula after receiving it.
On the other hand, Vikram Patel, Unjha Umiyadham Trust chairman, accused Hardik of “lying”, and said no one from his outfit had been informed or spoken to about the formula.