The Patel agitation leader, Hardik Patel on Saturday questioned the ‘Gujarat model’ of development and said he would “expose the reality behind it.”
While making announcements about the next round of agitations, the 22-year-old, cited several examples to prove his point.
“This government claims that farmers are very happy in Gujarat. Then why two farmers committed suicide in last one week? What is the reason that people involved in recruitment rackets are not punished? Why innocent women are beaten up and sent to jail by police? Is this the Gujarat Model?”
He alleged that the Patels were being subjected to violence by the police.
“Patels are being singled out by police and mercilessly thrashed. BJP-led Gujarat government brought an ordinance to delay the local body polls, for their benefit. Is this Gujarat Model? What will happen when such a model, for which our PM takes credit all the time, will be implemented across India?” he asked.
‘Gujarat model a myth’
The convener of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) termed the Gujarat model a “myth” and said he would “expose” the reality behind it.
“When such wrong and misleading notions about Gujarat Model is being spread by our leaders, which is totally against the reality here, we have decided to expose the well-propagated myth,” he said.
Hardik, who is also president of Patidar Navnirman Sena (PNS), claimed that the outfit has presence in 16 States and its members will hold various programmes across India, including in Bihar.
“As of now, more than 56 lakh members have registered with PNS. Not just Bihar, we will organise programmes in various parts of country to tell people about the atrocities police have committed on us in Gujarat,” he said.
‘Don’t want a special package’
Mr. Patel also rejected State government’s Rs. 1,000-crore package announced recently for the students of economically backward class (EBC) sections of non-reserved category.
“We don’t want such package. We want only reservation. If government claims that reservation can’t be given as per the present laws, then I want the government to explain to us, under which laws it cannot give us reservation,” he said.
