Patidars to take Ekta Yatra to north Gujarat

Palanpur: The agitating Patidars are planning to embark on yet another ‘Ekta Yatra' to intensify their demand for reservation under the OBC quota.
After traversing 11 districts of Saurashtra last month, the Patidars are gearing up to launch their solidarity march from Khodaldham in Sami taluka of Patan district and culminate the yatra at Umiyadham in Unjha."We are planning to embark on the Ekta Yatra from April 25 to May 1. We will cover nearly 560 Patel-dominated villages and towns," said Narendra Patel, north Gujarat convener, Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti.
Patel said they would soon apply for permission and if denied by the local administration, they would approach the Gujarat high court. "We are confident that the district authorities will cooperate with us as the Ekta Yatra is simply to show our religious solidarity," he said.
Meanwhile, the community members continued with the head tonsuring programme that had started from Palanpur last week. On Monday, 60 youngsters got their heads tonsured in in Mehsana, Becharaji, Mankadaj, Visnagar and Vijapur.
"After the exams are over, hundreds of the youths will join the tonsuring programme in Mehsana district," said Patel.
The unprecedented ‘Mundan Vidhi' is being held to symbolize the death of the BJP government.
"Besides reservation, we are sticking with our old demands that are leaders should be released from the jails," said Patel.