Emboldened by the response received by Patidar community leader Hardik Patel, convener of the Patidar Ananmat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), in demanding reservations for the Patel community, Jat leaders have even threatened to cut off water and power supply to Delhi as well as block road and rail traffic if their demands are not met.
Reaching Gujarat after his Delhi visit, Hardik announced on Monday that he would start the next round of pro-quota agitation from
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Tuesday in Surat. On Sunday, Hardik sought reservation for nearly “270 million people” of various communities, including Gujjars, Kurmis and Jats.
However, fissures were evident in Hardik’s plan to make common cause with landholding communities Gujjars and Jats. During his Delhi visit, Hardik had reached out to both Gujjar as well as Jat communities. But at an event to felicitate him in Delhi on Sunday, some Gujjar leaders protested that the Patidar community leader was supporting the Jat cause for reservations, when even the apex court has rejected that community’s demands.
A rally to demand reservations for the Jat community was held at the Bamrauli village in Baghpat on Sunday. Community leaders announced their intent to launch a countrywide protest that would include blocking rail and road traffic as well as stopping power and water supply. Leaders said they will have the "right of reservation at all cost".
Dharmveer Chaudhary, the chief coordinator of the campaign, said the fight for reservation would be fought on three fronts - government, court and public.
He said Jats from across the country, including Uttar Pradesh, would soon camp in Delhi and stop supply of power, water and essential commodities to press for their demand. All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti, Haryana, had earlier this week announced that they would launch a peaceful agitation next month to demand reservation.
Chaudhary blamed the Centre for the Supreme Court having struck down reservation for them under the other backward classes (OBC) category in several states. Jat leader Chaudhary Surendra Singh said they would support Patels if the Patidar community supported their demands in return.
Meanwhile, Hardik said the second round of agitation of the Patel community will focus more on taluka and village level this time. “We will walk on the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi," Hardik said. Violence had spread after the community’s mega-rally in Ahmedabad on August 25 in which 10 people were killed.
Hardik showed letters of various organisations who have extended their support. These include Gujjar Vikas Parishad, Kurmi-Kshatriya Mahasabha, Anjana-Chaudhari Samaj, Rashtriya Gujjar Manch, etc. "We are now getting support from entire India. Gujjars, Kurmis, Chaudharis and many others are with us. Our movement will further spread in other parts. In coming days, we have planned to hold a rally at Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh," he said. He said the plan was to take signatures of all 270 million people of these communities and hand it over to the prime minister.