Hardik postpones ‘reverse’ Dandi March till Tuesday

Ahmedabad: Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel has again postponed his ‘reverse Dandi March’, scheduled for Sunday, to September 15, claiming that he has been invited by a Cabinet minister for a meeting with the state Chief Minister on the issue.
Earlier, on September 5, he had postponed his reverse Dandi March – from Dandi village in Navsari district to Ahmedabad – till Sunday. Hardik, who has been spearheading the agitation to get reservation for the Patel community under OBC quota, said they will hold a meeting with Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Monday and if their issues are not resolved, then the march will take place on September 15.
When asked if he will attend the meeting, Hardik said, “The state government has just invited us on telephone. They will give us written invitation, then we will decide on it. If all the 146 conveners of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti unanimously tell me to attend the meeting, then only I will attend the meeting, otherwise not,” he said.
The police atrocities during violence for quota demand last month is the main issue now. The state government must discuss and take stern action in cases of police atrocities and a decision should be taken during that meeting (with CM) only, he said.
“We will give priority to the issue of police atrocities and the issue of reservation has now become secondary. Whoever police personnel had murdered our people and misbehaved with our women must be immediately suspended,” he demanded.
“We will demand suspension of all the 4,200 police personnel including constables, police inspectors or other officials who had beaten our people at GMDC ground on August 25,” he said.
“They must tell us who was the General Dyer, who had given orders to resort to baton charge on our people, whether he was from Gujarat or some person sitting in Delhi,” he added. (PTI)