Rejecting the reservation demand of state’s economically and politically powerful Patel community, the Gujarat government on Sunday said that they do not want to make any amendment in the guidelines set by the Supreme Court for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Class (OBC).
“We don’t want to change reservation guidelines set by SC for SC/ST and OBC and more than 50% reservation cannot be given as per the Supreme Court guidelines,” said Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel.
The announcement has been made ahead of a proposed mega-rally of Patels to be held in the city on August 25, where at least 20 lakh community members are expected to participate as a show of their strength.
Earlier in the day, thousands of Other Backward Class communities’ members held a rally here to counter the agitation of the Patel community and threatened to “uproot” the Gujarat government if it bows to the demand of the Patels.
The state government had invited the Patel leaders including Hardik Patel (convener of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti) to hold talks with them over the said issue today.
However, Hardik had earlier said that he will not hold any talks with government at this juncture ahead of the rally.
Members of Patel community have been holding protests and organising rallies in various parts of the state demanding reservation in government jobs and education under OBC quota.
