Lack of job opportunities led to Patel quota stir: JD(U)

Linking the demand for reservation by Patel community in Gujarat to unemployment, JD(U) President Sharad Yadav today hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that he has not fulfilled his promise of providing jobs and that this was leading to unrest among the youth.
At the same time, Yadav was dismissive of the reservation agitation in Gujarat started by Hardik Patel's Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), saying it will "fizzle out" soon.
When pointed out that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had backed Hardik's agitation, the JD(U) chief claimed that he had later denied it but was not published by media.

"The man who is leading the agitation is very immature. This agitation will automatically fizzle out. The demand for reservation for Patels is totally unjustified. They are affluent. There may be unemployment among them. They should have protested for jobs and not reservation," Yadav said.
Attacking the NDA government for "keeping mum" over the issue, Yadav said, "The government in power cannot win both sides of the coin. It should straight away reject the demand instead of creating an acrimonious situation in the country over reservation issue as has happened in the Patel's agitation."
Linking the demand for reservation to the problem of unemployment, he said the Prime Minister had promised two crore jobs each year to youths but nothing happened and the government started talking of skill development instead.

"This is the result of false promises made by the ruling party. Due to huge employment in the country, people like Patel launched a rally in the home state of the Prime Minister demanding reservation," he said, adding if this kind of trend of rallies goes on for demand of reservation, it will be dangerous for the country with other communities also joining the race.

He demanded that the government accelerate the process of collecting and releasing the data of unemployment.
Yadav, whose party had demanded releasing the figures of caste census, said that there are "nine crore errors" in the report that has come and favoured a fresh caste census to arrive at exact figures.

"It should be held afresh. Otherwise what purpose will it serve," he said.
The JD(U) also attacked the Prime Minister on issues of 'One Rank, One Pension', land bill and unemployment.
He alleged that while the government ultimately withdrew from its stand on land bill but they created huge unrest among farmers for months.
On OROP, he insisted that the Prime Minister should fulfil the promise he had made to the ex-servicemen and advised polemical parties not to make promises, which they cannot fulfil.