Differences among the Patidar quota agitation leaders once again came to fore today when one of them, Lalji Patel, resigned as chief of the group he was heading after he was not allowed to go on the stage of a community meet in Mehasana.
Head of Sardar Patel Group (SPG), Lalji faced the ire of members from another outfit, Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), when he arrived at the meeting's venue, about 65km from here.
PAAS and SPG are the two organisations which are leading the agitation for reservation to Patels in jobs and education in Gujarat under the OBC category.
As Lalji reached the meeting venue, organised by the community's women, some PAAS members shouted slogans against him and an announcement was made that he should not be allowed on the stage.
Feeling slighted, Lalji immediately left the venue.
"This is the biggest insult I have faced in my life and I have decided to tender my resignation from the post of President of SPG," an angry Lalji later told reporters.
"If I am insulted in this way then I have no right to be a leader of Patel quota agitation. I have spent 17 years of my life serving the people of the community," he maintained.
The incident has once again brought to light deep divisions between the Patel community leaders at a time when they are engaged in talks with the State Government to reach a compromise on the quota and related issues.
In the past, Lalji and Hardik have criticised each other and differed over the way the quota agitation should be taken forward.
The BJP government has roped in senior party MP and Patel leader Vitthal Radadia for negotiations on its behalf. Radadia has met Hardik, arrested on sedition charges, in jail twice in the last week and has said their talks are going in positive direction.
Meanwhile, Patel women in large number were present at the meet, where they forcefully reiterated the demand for reservation for the politically influential community.
The gathering also demanded that cases against their community members, including Hardik, be dropped by the State.
Besides 22-year-old Hardik, three of his top aide are also behind bars on sedition charges.
