With Gujarat government not heeding to the Patels’ demand for OBC status, at least 500 families of the community have threatened to leave Hinduism and convert to another religion for getting benefits of reservation in jobs and education. These families reside in Pasodara village near Surat city, around 260 kms from Ahmedabad.
Local Patel leaders called this move as a symbolic protest against the state government, which according to them, has denied reservation benefits to the community members under the OBC category.
At least 500 Patel families of Pasodara have decided to go for conversion in the wake of the government’s denial of reservation benefits to the Patels. We have conveyed our wish to convert to various Hindu organisations and leaders of our religion
Raju Bodara, Member, Akhil Bharatiya Patidar Sen
Vijay Patel, a local resident, said the families are “compelled” to take such a step.
Looking at the current situation, where the government is terrorising Patels by various means, we are left with no other option but to convert. We are compelled to do so. This government and our religious leaders should now do introspection on this issue. We are consulting legal experts to know more about our rights after conversion. We are also studying the Constitution. There must be a law which will give us all the benefits of reservation after conversion.
Vijay Patel, Local resident
The state-wide agitation for quota in Gujarat is being spearheaded by Hardik Patel, a 22-year-old commerce graduate who has been hogging the limelight after organising a massive rally in Ahmedabad on 25 August and his subsequent meetings with leaders of other communities like the Jats and Gujars who have also been making similar demands, and his run ins with the government authorities over the past few months.
(With inputs from PTI)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)