Hardik Patel announces 'lollipop movement' against Gujarat's govt's package

Ahmedabad: Patel quota movement leader Hardik Patel on Friday announced he would launch a "lollipop movement" in the state to express displeasure over Gujarat government's package for students of economically backward classes which he alleges does not offer anything substantial to the Patel community.

Hardik had yesterday said the special scheme announced by Gujarat government for deserving students of all categories was a "lollipop" to the Patel community.

"Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) will register their protest against the new scheme announced by Gujarat government by giving lollipops to the people in villages and talukas across the state," Hardik, convener of PAAS, said.

"Lollipops will be given to all the Patidars (Patels) on roads of the villages and talukas," he added.

In fact, this 'lollipop movement' was launched this evening in parts of Gujarat, like Rajkot.

Hardik asked his community members to launch the "lollipop movement,' even as he has submitted an undertaking in the high court yesterday stating that he would not start any movement till September 29, the next date of hearing in the case.

Yesterday, Hardik's lawyer BM Mangukia had given an undertaking before a division bench of justice MR Shah and justice KJ Thaker on behalf of his client that no agitation or programme call will be given by the leader until the next hearing on September 29.

Hardik had said yesterday "Prima facie, it seems that the special scheme is a lollipop for the Patel community. Whatever has been offered is nothing new but a modified version of old schemes for the economically backward category."

"However, we will make our stand clear after discussing the scheme with members, workers and leaders of PAAS and the Patel community...Our agitation is on...As our demands are not mentioned in the special scheme, the agitation will not be either stopped or postponed," he had said.

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has announced a special scheme with substantial fee waiver for students across communities. The 'Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavlamban Yojana' (Chief Minister's Youth Self-Reliance Scheme) will benefit the students, irrespective of caste whose family income is not more than Rs 4.5 lakh per annum.

Exactly a month ago (August 25), the Patel quota agitation had turned violent after Hardik's detention during the community's protest in Ahmedabad, which had resulted in the death of ten people, including a police constable.

The 22-year-old leader today made an appeal to his fellow community members to observe August 25 as 'Patidar (Patel) Revolution Day' and August 26 as 'Martyrs' Day'.

"August 25 will be observed as 'Patidar Revolution Day' across the world. On this day last month, Patidars had set a world-record by gathering in large number for the community's demand for reservation," Hardik said.

"August 26 is declared as 'Martyrs Day' as our people sacrificed their lives (in August 26 violence)," the agitation spearhead said adding "we will light a candle at our homes tomorrow to pay tribute to their martyrdom on completion of one month of their sacrifice."