Lalji Patel reunites with Hardik Patel for reservation stir

Ahmedabad: After disassociating himself from Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) last month owing to differences, Patel leader Lalji Patel joined hands with PAAS head Hardik Patel.

Incidentally, the move comes just ahead of their meeting with the Gujarat government scheduled for tomorrow.

Lalji Patel heads the Sardar Patel Group (SPG) had disassociated himself from the Hardik Patel-led PAAS after the mega Patel rally on August 25.

After the rally, Lalji announced a parallel agitation to press for the demand to include Patel under OBC quota. At that time, Lalji said that he was not taken into confidence by Hardik Patel on some issues related to the agitation.

Today, both Hardik and Lalji shared a dais at a 'Chintan Shibir' held at Sola and announced that they would work together. During the event attended by members of both PAAS and SPG, Hardik touched Lalji's feet to seek his blessings.

Speaking at the function, Lalji claimed that he never had any differences with Hardik Patel or PAAS.

"SPG and PAAS never parted ways. It was merely a misunderstanding created by the media. I have clarified on television news channels several times that Hardik Patel is like my younger brother and we are always together but the media kept on showing that we had differences," Lalji said.

Further, Lalji called for a unified movement to achieve their target.

"Our (SPG and PAAS) sole aim is to get reservation for Patels. I told Hardik that a single organisation, be it SPG or PAAS, may not get the desired success. The mega rally of August 25 suceeded because we all worked together," Lalji said, while addressing Patel community leaders.

Similarly, Hardik too announced to work together. "We allare working for a common agenda of getting reservation for Patels. While Lalji walks on the path of Gandhiji, I have chosen to walk on the path of Bhagat Singh," Hardik Patel said in his address.

The development came in the wake of Gujarat government's invitation to PAAS leaders to hold talks with the government on the issue of reservation.

After getting the invitation yesterday, Hardik has postponed the plans to hold their reverse Dandi March, which was supposed to start today from Dandi.

"We called PAAS leaders late yesterday evening and asked them to hold talks with government on Monday. I am happy that they have accepted our invitation and canceled their plans to hold the march," Gujarat government spokesperson Saurabh Patel here on Sunday.