Gujarat government conveys inability to grant quota to Patels

Ahmedabad: Gujarat Health Minister Nitin Patel, who heads the seven-member committee of ministers, told Patel community leaders today that the Gujarat government has "limitations" in granting reservation quota to the community.

Ahead of the mass gathering of the Patel community at GMDC ground on Tuesday to press for their reservation under OBC quota demand, the Gujarat government invited Patel community leader Hardik Patel to hold talks with the government today.

Hardik is convener of umbrella organisation Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti which has been spearheading the agitation demanding quota for the Patel community. However, Hardik skipped the meeting and sent three other senior Patel leaders to hold talks with the government committee today.

After the meeting, Nitin Patel stated that the government has made it's stand clear about granting reservation to Patels. "We have invited Hardik to have a meeting with us, but he could not come. We held a meeting with three other representatives of the Patidar Samiti.

We have clearly conveyed them about what this government can do and what is beyond its capacity as far as the reservation issue goes," Patel said, after the meeting. Apart from Nitin Patel, Gujarat Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama and Minister of State for Home Rajni Patel was also present at the meeting with Patel leaders.

"We told them that our doors are open if they want to discuss about what this government can do for them. If needed we are ready to hold talks with them after their rally on Tuesday. We have also informed them about our proposed scheme for the development of all general category castes," Nitin Patel.