Gujarat CM blasts Patel leaders for their "negative" mindset

Ahmedabad, Sep 27: Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel lashed out against leaders of the Patel quota agitation here on Sunday, saying that they are interested purely in promoting their "negative" agenda.

"Those who have decided to think negatively, will always think that way. I don't wish to say anything about those who are not interested in any compromise and are interested purely in projecting their negative agenda in order to make headlines," Patel told reporters at a function in Gandhinagar.

Her comments came after Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel rejected a Rs 1,000 crore package announced by the Gujarat government a few days ago for students from the Economically Backward Category (EBC), calling the package as nothing but a "lollipop", after which he announced state-wide protests.

When asked to comment about the suicide of 34-year-old youth Umesh Patel yesterday in Rajkot, the Gujarat Chief Minister stated that an inquiry is on.

"The local police is investigating the case to find out the reasons behind his suicide. The government will share the details with the media after the probe," she said.

The youth Umesh Patel, who was actively involved in Patel agitation for job reservation quota under the Other Backward Category, allegedly ended his life in support of the agitation.

In a related development, Umesh's family members, including his wife Nilam and his mother Vimlaben Patel, demanded compensation from the Gujarat government.

"We don't have anything to survive. We don't have land or our own house. Umesh was the only earning member of our family. This government must think about compensating us," Vimlaben Patel said.

PTI