Patel quota movement leader Hardik Patel today announced he would launch a “lollipop movement” in the state to express displeasure over Gujarat government’s package for students of economically backward classes which he alleges does not offer anything substantial to the Patel community.
Hardik had yesterday said the special scheme announced by Gujarat government for deserving students of all categories was a “lollipop” to the Patel community.
“Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) will register their protest against the new scheme announced by Gujarat government by giving lollipops to the people in villages and talukas across the state,” Hardik, convener of PAAS, said.
“Lollipops will be given to all the Patidars (Patels) on roads of the villages and talukas,” he added.
In fact, this ‘lollipop movement’ was launched this evening in parts of Gujarat, like Rajkot.
Hardik asked his community members to launch the “lollipop movement,’ even as he has submitted an undertaking in the high court yesterday stating that he would not start any movement till September 29, the next date of hearing in the case.
Yesterday, Hardik’s lawyer B M Mangukia had given an undertaking before a division bench of justice M R Shah and justice K J Thaker on behalf of his client that no agitation or programme call will be given by the leader until the next hearing on September 29.
Hardik had said yesterday “Prima facie, it seems that the special scheme is a lollipop for the Patel community. Whatever has been offered is nothing new but a modified version of old schemes for the economically backward category.”
“However, we will make our stand clear after discussing the scheme with members, workers and leaders of PAAS and the Patel community…Our agitation is on…As our demands are not mentioned in the special scheme, the agitation will not be either stopped or postponed,” he had said.
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has announced a special scheme with substantial fee waiver for students across communities. The ‘Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavlamban Yojana’ (Chief Minister’s Youth Self-Reliance Scheme) will benefit the students, irrespective of caste whose family income is not more than Rs 4.5 lakh per annum.