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Gujarat: Shahid Yatra gets a lukewarm response from Patel community

The 35-day-long yatra began from Unjha Umiyadham in Mehsana district on Sunday

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Patel community members attending the yatra on Sunday
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Shahid Yatra, a march launched by the Patel community, got a lukewarm response from the ones who launched it.

The yatra took off from Unjha Umiyadham temple in Mehsana on Sunday, and except for one Patel MLA and a handful of reservation agitation leaders, no big face made any appearance. The yatra is commemorating 14 youth of the community who died after police had opened fire during reservation agitation during Hardik's rally in August 2015.

Hardik's absence seemed to be a cause behind the lackluster show. The PAAS leader was in Anand district to meet the family of Dev, who was murdered by a classmate in Vadodara-based school. Unjha Congress MLA Asha Patel was the only politician who remained present in Yatra. MLAs like Lalit Vasoya, Kirit Patel, Lalit Kagthara and Brijesh Merja who were part of agitation once, did not appear. Most of the Patel agitation members held the yatra as a fiasco.

In fact, the yatra was announced by PAAS member Dilip Sabva who now has bitter ties with Hardik Patel. Sabva, talking to media persons said, "This Yatra is yet another version of reservation agitation. Yatra's only motive will be seeking justice for the Patidars martyred during the quota agitation, withdrawal of cases against Patidars and reservation to Patel community under OBC Quota. We are going to awake our people again for the cause."

Hardik Patel also lately announced his support for the yatra and decided to join the same after it passed through Mehsana district because court has prohibited Hardik from entering the district. He will be at Vadali in Sabarkantha district to welcome the Yatra.

Insiders of the agitation said poor show of the yatra is because of factions among agitation leaders as they had disputes among them. Hardik created a controversy by making allegations on his former colleagues including Sabva of having accepted bribe from BJP leaders in crores of rupees.

The 35-day-long yatra began from Unjha Umiyadham in Mehsana district on Sunday. The yatra is going to crisscross the state and will pass through 97 tehsils, mostly dominated by the Patel community.

It will cover 3,349 km in north Gujarat, central Gujarat, Surat and Saurashtra regions and will conclude at Khodaldham in Kagvad near Rajkot in Saurashtra region.

Umiya dham is the place of worship for Kadva Patel, while Khodaldham is the worship place for Leuva Patel. This is a strategic move to unite both sections of Patidar community in North Gujarat and Saurashtra region where they dominate.

Announcing his participation five days ago, Hardik said that he sought support from all the communities in Gujarat for the yatra and wished them to join too.

KNOW THE SHAHID YATRA

  • The 35-day-long yatra began from Unjha Umiyadham in Mehsana district on Sunday.
     
  • The yatra is going to crisscross the state and will pass through 97 tehsils, mostly dominated by the Patel community.  
     
  • Umiya dham is the place of worship for Kadva Patel.
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