Will join politics if people want: Hardik

Patidar <g data-gr-id="19">Anamat</g> Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel, who announced the formation of a new organisation, Akhil Bharatiya Patel Navnirman Sena (ABPNS) here on Wednesday, said that he would join politics “if people want” it.

“When <g data-gr-id="24">time</g> comes, we can think about political steps. I cannot decide this alone. The decision will be taken by all of us,” Patel said. Any such decision would take time, Patel said when asked if he would join politics given the fact that even Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal finally took the plunge after trudging the agitational path. 

The 22-year-old has been spearheading protests in Gujarat, demanding <g data-gr-id="22">quota</g>  for the Patel community. He announced the formation of his new organisation that aims at working for unifying Kurmis, Marathas, Patidar and Gujjar communities and for the “cause of farmers, labourers, women and youth”.

Akhilesh Katiyar, who was earlier with the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) led by Upendra Kushwaha, will be the general secretary of ABPNS, Patel said. Katiyar was expelled from the <g data-gr-id="18">RLSP,</g> after he organised Patel’s first public meeting in Delhi. 

Patel said in October a rally of Kurmis, Patidars, Gujjars and Marathas from Delhi, Rajasthan and neighbouring states would be held at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi.