Patidar quota row: BJP can be uprooted from power in Gujarat local body polls, says Hardik Patel

Escalating his aggression over the Patel quota issue, the agitation protagonist Hardik Patel on Sunday said the ruling BJP will face "adverse" outcome in forthcoming local body polls even as he threatened to "dump" in "well" those politicians who kept mum on "atrocities" committed by police on members of his community last month. Hardik also blamed the state government and police for the sporadic violence that had erupted after his arrest last night for defying the prohibitory orders in place for his 'Ekta March'.

"This is such a condition where the ruling party can be uprooted from their power. We have dug a huge well where we will throw all the political leaders against us including the leaders of the ruling party. Due to this agitation, the ruling party will face adverse results in the upcoming local body elections. They will have to pay the price for the deaths of our nine youths," Hardik told reporters in Surat while referring to the deaths that occurred during the violence that had spread after the August 25 rally of Patels. The municipal and local bodies' polls are likely to be held next month.

Earlier, Hardik put posters asking politicians "not to enter the housing societies of Patels for votes or for holding rallies." The posters had a punchline reading "the option of NOTA is self-respect for Patidars (Patel).""This is request from youths of the Patel community to leaders of BJP, Congress and any other political parties to not enter into our society for the purpose of political rally or for seeking votes. "If they come to society and if any untoward incident happens, the residents of society will not be held responsible for them," reads a poster.

When asked which political parties he is aiming at in the posters, Hardik said, "We are not putting banners to oppose any particular political party, but neither BJP nor Congress have as of now uttered a single word for police atrocities on our youths resulting in death of nine of them and injuries to thousand others." Hardik said Patels will oppose all those leaders. "Therefore we have clearly written in that poster addressing the leaders of BJP and Congress to not come before us begging for votes. If you do not care for us, we don't care for you.

"It (the poster war) is a strategic movement which will be taken out to villages and talukas of Gujarat," he said. Blaming the government and police for sporadic violence that took place yesterday, Hardik said, "They can go to any extent to break this movement."  

"You (Gujarat government) claim that no orders for shooting at our people were given. That means this government has no control over police. Chief Minister had yesterday said that law will take its own course, then let the law take its own course, why you are you pressurising on it (law taking its course)," Hardik said.

Seeking to draw a parallel between him and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Pravin Togadia, the 22-year-old convener of Patel Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) said members of Patel community have faith in his leadership. "When Pravin Togadia had started movement for welfare of Hindu community, a large number of people had joined him. "...Though I did not initiate this (Patel quota) movement to become a leader or a hero, but people of the Patel community have faith in my leadership and therefore they have been supporting me," Hardik said.

He also alleged that a "political conspiracy" is being hatched against him. "When I went to meet some people who became victims of the police atrocity in Surat, around 25,000 people were there and it was like a road show," he said.

When asked if he would join the political system to change it, Hardik said it will be decided at "appropriate" time. "I believe whether to enter in this (politics) will be decided when time comes. But I am just 22-year-old. I am at present trying to unite my community and I believe if all the communities get united, it will be in the interest of this country," he said.