Quota Row: Patel Leaders Agree On Committee To Hold Talks

The Patel community leaders, including those who are in jail, on Wednesday agreed on formation of a committee for holding talks with the Gujarat government to resolve the OBC quota issue following a meeting with the Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.

Three jailed members of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, (the organisation which led the agitation), namely, Chirag Patel, Ketan Patel and Dinesh Patel, have written to the Chief Minister authorising this committee to hold the talks.

"We met the Chief Minister today with the parents of the three jailed leaders to inform that PAAS and Sardar Patel Group (SPG) led by Lalji Patel have authorised us to hold talks," community leader Jayram Vansjaliya said.

"We also gave a letter by PAAS members to the CM saying they are ready for talks."

Mr Vansjaliya is the managing trustee of Umiya Dham, a prominent Patel institution at Sidsar in Jamnagar district.

Mr Vansjaliya and other leaders will form a broad-based committee which will hold discussions with the government and the agitators.

Bharatbhai, Chirag Patel's father, said, "We met Chief Minister and urged her to find a solution and allow our kin to come out of jail."

Lalji Patel said his group was agreeable to talks, but a compromise was possible only after the main demand of quota was met. "Apart from quota for the Patel community, our other demand is release of all the 14 community youths and withdrawal of all the cases," he said.

PAAS city convener Atul Patel said one of its main demand was of release of Hardik Patel, arrested for sedition.

Government spokesperson and health minister Nitin Patel said, "PAAS leaders from jail have authorised formation of the committee and the committee will now negotiate with the government and agitators."