Quota issue: PAAS, SPG for talks with Gujarat govt

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel on Sunday said the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and Sardar Patel Group (SPG) have agreed to sit with the government for truce talks again.

Both the groups have been demanding reservation for the Patidar community, which is a major votebank of the BJP. An imprint of the agitation by the Patel community in December 2015 was clearly visible in the results of the local government body polls where the BJP lost.

Nitin Patel, who is also the chairman of the committee formed by the Gujarat government for truce talks with agitating groups, made the announcement in Mehsana on Sunday.

Patel said, “Both PAAS and SPG have agreed to reach a compromise with the government, who are serious on their demands including jobs to the dependents of those who lost their lives in the quota agitation. We will also look into the demand of the withdrawal of all cases against protesters.”

None of the leaders of the PAAS or SPG could be reached for a comment. Interestingly, the development comes when the BJP National President Amit Shah has arrived in Gujarat. Ten days ago, PAAS convenor Hardik Patel had written to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani that they are ready …read more