Dalits, Patidars, OBCs victims of Gujarat model: Jignesh Mevani

Interview with Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani

Along with Patidar leader Hardik Patel and OBC leader Alpesh Thakor, Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani has emerged as the foremost critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Gujarat. Mevani, 34, a lawyer and social activist, tells Archis Mohan that Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and he have challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani for a debate on the ‘Gujarat model’ of development. Edited excerpts:

Dalits, Patidars and Thakore communities have contradictions on the ground. Given that these communities have conflicting interests, how probable is it for these to united?

Six years