Who is Hardik Patel?
Hardik Patel, 22, is the convener of the 2-month old Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti and has challenged the political and social stability of Gujarat. A BCom graduate, with less than 50% marks from Ahmedabad’s Sahajanand College, he started working right after graduation for his father, who runs a water pump business. The middle-class family belongs to Viramgam, rural Ahmedabad.
What does he want?
The agitation spearheaded by him wants Patels to be listed as an OBC (Other Backward Class), and 5% reservation for landless Patidars under the Special Backward Class quota.
The rise of Hardik Patel
Two months ago, Hardik Patel was a nobody. But a series of agitations has led to a state-wide movement. In August, Hardik led a reported 4.5 lakh Patels in a vehicle rally that brought Surat to a grinding halt. Many retired police personnel and bureaucrats also participated in the rally.
“Disruptive”, Not “Violent”
He hit national headlines when a rally in Visnagar turned violent. 25,000 men and women marched towards a local BJP MLA Rishikesh Patel’s office to submit a memorandum. But the crowd got angry when they found the MLA was not in, and started vandalising cars and public property. The police were forced to fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd and one journalist suffered minor injuries.
A YouTube video shows him brandishing guns, but Hardik Patel insists the pictures and the provocative commentary is only for dramatic effect.
Who are backing him?
The Congress claims Hardik Patel is backed by a resentful Patel faction within the BJP. The BJP claims Hardik Patel is a Congress creation to divide the Patels, who constitute the core voter base of the BJP in Gujarat. Both parties, however, are against reservation for Patels.
Hardik Patel has also been a member of the Aam Aadmi Party at one time, but claims the only party he belongs to are the Patidars.
Why should BJP take him seriously?
Because of the sheer number of people that he has managed to galvanize to demand reservation. The Patels constitute 18-20% of Gujarat’s total population. Since the mid-1980s, the Patels have been united and unwavering in their support for the BJP. In fact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah have sought a report from the state government on the demands that have been made by the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti.
Addressing their biggest rally yet in Ahmedabad this afternoon, Hardik Patel issued an open threat to the state government – “Won’t allow the Lotus to bloom in Gujarat in 2017, if our demands are not met.”
The fact that this 22-year old is a great orator is earning him comparisons with Modi. His followers are calling him the “New Modi” and the “Iron Man”.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)