Hardik lists 27 demands before CM for truce on Patel quota

Gandhinagar, March 6: Jailed Patel quota agitation spearhead Hardik Patel on Tuesday, March 8 put forward his charter of 27 demands before Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel in a sealed cover, in order to arrive at a compromise with the state government on the row.

Father of Hardik Patel, Bharatbhai, along with mediators like BJP MP from Porbandar Vitthal Radadia, community leader of Patels, Jairam Vansjaliya and others, met the Chief Minister today and submitted the demands listed by Hardik.

"As part of the ongoing talks with the government to arrive at a compromise regarding quota agitation, we met Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and BJP chief Vijay Rupani and handed over a sealed cover given to us by Hardik Patel when we met him in Surat jail," Radadia told reporters after the meeting.

"The cover is having a list of 27 demands put forward by Hardik to workout a truce formula," Radadia said. Radadia and Vasjaliya have separately met Hardik many times inside the jail. "Since the cover was sealed when it was given to us, we don't know the exact details of these 27 demands," Radadia said when asked about the charter of demands.

"Chief Minister told us that she will go through the demands and give her response in due course. We think that government's approach is positive," Radadia said.

Though Radadia did not gave details of the demand of quota agitators, as earlier spelt out by Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) members, it includes quota for Patels, withdrawal of all cases against them and compensation for kin of those killed during quota agitation.

"I don't want to comment on cases in courts. That is a legal process," Radadia said when asked to comment on government's stand on bail applications of Hardik and other PAAS leaders. The state government has opposed the bail plea of Hardik Patel and his key aides, who are behind bars in sedition cases, in the courts.

The state government has filed two separate sedition cases against Hardik. Various other cases have also been filed against him across the state. Hardik is at present lodged in Surat's Lajpore jail, while his three key aides are lodged in Ahmedabad's Sabarmati jail.

Patels are demanding their inclusion in OBC quota so that community members can get reservations in education and jobs. The agitation had turned violent and had claimed 10 lives last year.

PTI