Sharad Yadav disapproves of Patel protest over quota

“The agitation by the Patel and Patidar caste men is unjustified and wrong as this community has been quite well off. They (Patels and Patidars) should not agitate for reservation at all,” Yadav said.

The JD(U) national president’s remarks on the ongoing stir by the Patels assumes significance after the Chief Minister had backed the protesters’ demand on Tuesday for inclusion in OBC category saying that their demand could be delayed, but not wished away by the government.

“I extend my good wishes to the people of Patel and Patidar castes agitating for the justified demand of inclusion in OBC category,” Kumar had said. 

He further said the Patels’ demand was justified as in other parts of the country similar kind of castes were getting <g data-gr-id="40">reservation</g>, but this benefit was denied to them in Gujarat.

The other leaders of Patel community in Bihar and neighbouring state Uttar Pradesh were tight-lipped over the ongoing controversy. Former Bihar Education Minister <g data-gr-id="37">Brishan</g> Patel, who was given the ministerial berth on Patel community quota in the JD (U) government, was examining the details of the Patidars’ demands.

Talking to Millennium Post, Patel said: “I have not yet studied the details of demands raised by Hardik Patel led Patidar <g data-gr-id="38">Anamat</g> Andolan Samiti (PAAS). Let me first examine the demands of PAAS, after that I will able to comment on this issue.”

In reply to a question that Bihar Chief Minister has supported the Patel movement, Yadav said: “I am not in the ‘party of Nitish Kumar’. Kumar is free to comment on any issue, but I’m not here to step into someone’s shoes.”

However, noted Patel leader of Uttar Pradesh Anupriya Patel refused to comment over the issue. 

It is worth mentioning that Patel community in Uttar Pradesh <g data-gr-id="44">fall</g> under the OBC category. 

Political experts said the Patel movement in <g data-gr-id="41">Gujart</g> would have some impact on Bihar Assembly elections as Patel (<g data-gr-id="42">kurmi</g>) community of Bihar OBC quota and were well off too. 

“The ruling JD(U) would try to rake up the issue to counter the Modi wave in Bihar as state BJP is contesting the state election in the name of the Prime Minister,” a senior political expert said, adding that Nitish had attacked the Prime Minister over his DNA remark and development package war by saying that “people (Narendra Modi)” should first take care of reservation problems in their homes (Gujarat)”.

The 22-year-old leader Hardik Patel, spearheading the agitation for OBC reservation to the Patels and Patidars in Gujarat, had during his speech at a mega rally in Ahmedabad on Tuesday taken Nitish Kumar’s name as well as that of Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu as members of the community.