Prominent Patel leaders and Gujarat-based businessmen today announced the formation of a new outfit to push for the release of jailed quota agitation spearhead Hardik Patel and his three aides.
They later sat on a day-long hunger strike in support of their demand.
The group, 'Patidar Sangh', is the outcome of an initiative launched by Surat-based diamond tycoon Laljibhai Patel, a BJP supporter who was in the news for buying Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pinstriped suit for Rs 4.31 crore at an auction last year.
Around 400 businessmen and prominent Patel leaders, most of them BJP supporters, sat on a day-long hunger strike in Surat, about 200km from here, to demand the release of Hardik and his aides -- Chirag Patel, Ketan Patel and Dinesh Patel.
They are in jail since their arrest late last year and are all facing a slew of charges, including that of sedition.
Newly-appointed National General Secretary of BJP Kisan Morcha, Gordhan Zadafia, also attended the event and extended his support to the cause.
According to Laljibhai, Hardik and three other Patel leaders should be freed from jail at the earliest.
"As Hardik and other Patel leaders are still behind bars, prominent Patel leaders came together and decided to form this Patidar Sangh. We want the government to release these leaders. The hunger strike was arranged to raise that demand," he said.
Talking to reporters, Zadafia said efforts are being made to resolve the reservation issue and end the impasse between the Patel quota leaders and Gujarat government.
"The Gujarat government is actively trying to arrive at a compromise formula. BJP, too, is very much concerned about the issue. We are trying to find a solution through social and legal means," he said.
The formation of Patidar Sangh, with support from BJP, comes at a time when the two major outfits related to the quota stir -- Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and Sardar Patel Group (SPG) -- are already pushing for Hardik's release and are at loggerheads with the BJP government.
Patidar Sangh largely comprises BJP supporters. However, anti-BJP sentiment prevails among the members of PAAS, headed by Hardik, and SPG.
Asked about Zadafia's presence at the event, Gujarat BJP President Vijay Rupani said the ruling party had never been against a compromise on the quota issue.
"As the state party chief, I gave consent to Patel leaders (like Zadafia) to attend this event as BJP also wants an amicable solution. BJP does not have any problem if both the parties (government and Patel leaders) reach a compromise," said Rupani.
