Exclusive: No Achche Log in Modi’s Gujarat Govt, Says Hardik Patel

In an interview to the Quint, the face of the Patel agitation takes on Modi but insists it’s all apolitical.

Lakhs of Patels protest at the mega rally in Ahmedabad, demanding OBC quota. (Photo: The image has been altered by The Quint)

Hardik Patel is 22.

He claims that a wildly improbable 27 crore people have rallied behind him.
He openly threatens to block roads, shut down towns and cut supplies.
He single-handedly pushed Gujarat to the brink.
He has addressed over 160 rallies.
He also brandishes a gun with impunity.

And in the land of Modi, he challenges Modi.

All Apolitical?

In an interview to The Quint, he insists, it’s not about politics, and that he has not been backed by anyone.

22 year old Hardik Patel claims he has no political backing. (Photo: facebook.com/hardikpatelpatidar)

I have the support of 27 crore people, I don’t need anybody’s political blessings. I will work on the ground and unite people from different parts of the country. I have not, and will not, take or give any political support. Leaders like Nitish Kumar can come and support me but I will not take support of the Janta Parivar.
– Hardik Patel to The Quint

On 31 August, Hardik Patel returned from Delhi , where he tried to mobilise support from the Kurmis, and also the Jat and Gujjar communities, even though they are often on opposing sides over reservation.

This Gujarati Patel is not a Modi Fan

Hardik Patel is fearless when he talks about Narendra Modi in Gujarat. Seen here appealing for calm after bringing Gujarat to a standstill. (Photo: facebook.com/hardikpatelpatidar)

Patel claims that 27 crore signatures will be submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press for more caste-based reservation. Hardik Patel calls Narendra Modi, a ‘rajneta’, but adds that there were no ‘achche log’ in Modi’s Gujarat government.

There were no good people in Modi’s Gujarat government all these years, that is why we didn’t raise the issue [of reservation]. I have no problem with Modi, he is a good ‘rajneta’.
– Hardik Patel to The Quint

So what does 22-year-old Hardik say of the Gujarat model of development?

I don’t know about the Gujarat model. In the last 10 years, not even a water tank has been constructed in my village. Come to my village, where is the development? The rich have gotten richer and the poor, poorer. That’s all I know about the Gujarat model.
– Hardik Patel to The Quint

The Rich & Powerful Patels Want More

Can Hardik Patel, representing a prosperous Patel community, garner pan India support and sympathy? (Photo: facebook.com/hardikpatelpatidar)

What is clear is that Patel represents the frustrations of the upper class youth. He also draws strength from the ire of the farming community in rapidly industrialising states like Gujarat. When confronted with facts about the ‘prosperous Patel’ , Hardik is dismissive. That six members of the lean 18-member Gujarat cabinet belong to the Patel community or that 40 of the 120 MLAs in the Gujarat Assembly are Patels, means nothing to him.

90% of the community doesn’t have food to eat. There have been maximum suicides among the farmer community of the Patels. For the last 10 years, there have been no jobs available to us. People don’t even get government jobs. Despite good education, even MBAs are not getting jobs. Just because there are MLAs and Patels in the cabinet, doesn’t mean there’s anything for the community.
– Hardik Patel to The Quint

Land of Bhagat Singh & Not Just Gandhi

Patidar community agitators set a car on fire in Surat during the agitation last week. (Photo: PTI)

Last week, this sword-wielding Patel pushed Gujarat to the brink and brought many parts of the state to a standstill. He openly propagates gun culture and believes that peace will prevail only if criminals are killed.

Women are raped and people are murdered, what is wrong if innocent people carry weapons to defend themselves? Innocent people must be allowed to defend themselves. This is the land of Bhagat Singh as much as it is land of Mahatma Gandhi.
– Hardik Patel to The Quint

Politics & Elections When The Time Comes

Hardik Patel seen here with a gun strapped to his waist, standing next to VHP leader Praveen Togadia. (Photo: facebook.com/hardikpatelpatidar)

Hardik Patel sees no contradiction in his position on reservations and politics - he says he is not against reservation for OBCs but then says they hog seats and take jobs that Patels would normally get. He says if the Patel community does not get reservation, then reservation should be done away with entirely. He claims that he is apolitical and will not take or give political support but does not rule out joining politics or fighting elections.

Sardar Vallabhai Patel is my idol, I will follow in his footsteps. The future plan is to build a movement. I have not ruled out joining politics, we’ll see when the time comes.
– Hardik Patel to The Quint

Hardik Patel is brazen but has nerve. He has captured the imagination of the lakhs who have attended his 160 + rallies. But does attendance mean participation? And can Modi continue to ignore him?