Hardik Patel Breaks Indefinite Hunger Strike After 19 Days
Nineteen days after he began his fast for Patidar reservation & farm loan waivers, Hardik Patel has broken the fast.
Patidar leader Hardik Patel, who was on a hunger strike for the last 19 days, broke his fast on Wednesday, 12 September, reported ANI. Patel was demanding reservation for the Patidar community and loan waivers for farmers.
Patel was admitted to a private hospital and discharged on Sunday, 9 September, in Ahmedabad after he took ill.
He was then taken to his residence nearby, from where he continued his indefinite fast which entered its 16th day on Sunday.
Mediapersons following Hardik were stopped by police personnel deployed in large numbers on the road leading to his residence.
Some reporters were roughed up and baton charged by the police to prevent them from entering the residence of the Patidar leader.
Hardik launched his indefinite fast on 25 August from his house for reservation in government jobs and education for Patidars and for loan waivers for farmers.
The 25-year-old leader was first shifted to the Sola Civil Hospital by his supporters on Friday as his health deteriorated, and later to the privately-run SGVP Holistic Hospital from where he was discharged on Sunday. He had continued his fast from the hospital bed.
Before he was discharged from the hospital, the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader told his supporters through a Facebook Live message that he would continue the hunger strike from his residence.
Hardik said he was firm on his demands which included a farm loan waiver, Patidar quota and release of PAAS member Alpesh Kathiriya who was arrested on the charge of sedition.
Hardik also alleged in a tweet that a police officer had threatened to kill him. In the tweet, Hardik condemned the "attack" on media personnel.
Meanwhile, a large number of people from the Patidar community took out a march from Patan to Unjha, a distance of 30 kms, in Mehsana district in support of Hardik.
Congress MLAs Lalit Vasoya and Asha Patel joined the "padyatra". People walked from Patan to offer prayers to their family deity goddess Umiya at the temple located in Unjha.
Hardik's supporters had claimed that the government had not made any attempt in the last fortnight to negotiate with him.
As Hardik reached his residence, he was greeted with heavy police deployment at the entrance ot the society where he resides.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
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