Patidar leaders list seven ‘social issues’, to meet CM Patel seeking action

Congress MLA Kirit Patel from Patan, former Congress MLAs Lalit Vasoya and Lalit Kagathara, and Patidar leaders from the BJP and AAP, conveners, co-conveners, and other PAAS leaders from various parts of Gujarat gathered at Sargasan on Saturday afternoon to participate in the ‘Patidar Chintan Shibir’.

Sources in the PAAS said that over 250 Patidar community youths and leaders graced the event.

Sources also said that some topics were listed for discussion by the leaders. Discussions were held on making signatures of parents mandatory for marriage registration, online gaming, online gambling, ban on loan sharks, 10 per cent reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in local body elections, appointment of chairman of Gujarat State Commission for Unreserved Classes, making Gondal terror free, withdrawal of pending police cases against Patidars registered during their movement, addition of Karamsad in Anand Municipality and renaming it to Sardar Dham.

Former PAAS state convener Dinesh Bamaniya said, “We were expecting around 50 to 60 attendees, but over 300 people participated. In the coming days, we will take an appointment, meet the Chief Minister and present before him seven of these issues for his government to take necessary steps before August 25. If the government fails to take action, we will hold meetings to seek public support. I have filed a PIL in the Gujarat High Court for a 10 per cent reservation for EWS in local body elections, and the hearing is scheduled for Monday. The Sardar Patel Group and PAAS will work jointly.”

Former PAAS convener and AAP’s women wing president Reshma Patel said, “The meeting was quite good as old friends met after a long time. The issues discussed were social and not related to any community. The issue of parents’ signatures during marriage registrations is quite important. I am not against love marriages, but in many cases, a girl makes a decision after getting influenced by the other party. She suffers later and with no support from her community or parents, her situation becomes pitiable. In some cases, we have seen girls committing suicide. So we want the government to establish stricter rules for marriage registration.”

“Another significant issue was the appointment of chairperson of the Gujarat State Commission for Unreserved Classes. When the commission was formed, a chairperson was appointed, but after his term ended, no new appointment was made. Additionally, the funds allocated for beneficiaries in the commission remain unused due to strict and complicated procedures. We will request the government to simplify rules so that more people can avail the benefit and the funds are properly utilised. However, the other issues were equally important to us.”