Now, Patidars take protest outside Gujarat

New Delhi: Bolstered by support from several organisations, Patidar Navnirman Sena (PNS), which is spearheading the Patel reservation movement, is eyeing expansion of its stir to other parts of the country, starting from a rally in Lucknow on May 10.
The PNS has invited several leaders to the Lucknow rally including Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his West Bengal counterpart Mamta Banerjee.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and Rajasthan Gujjar Arakshan Andolan Samiti (RGAAS) on Tuesday supported the PNS, which has threatened to intensify its agitation if the Gujarat government doesn't stop "harassing" its leaders, who have been jailed. The leaders have been slapped with several charges, including that of sedition.
BKU leader Rishipal Ambawat said at the Lucknow rally, they would demand the release of Hardik Patel, who has been languishing in jail for the past six months. "We have also invited Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee and (Indian National Lok Dal leader) Abhay Chautala to be a part of the rally," he said.
Himmat Singh Gujjar, spokesperson for RGAAS, alleged that the BJP governments in Gujarat and at the Centre were "harassing" people of the community.
"It's been over six months that our leader Hardik Patel is in jail over sedition charges. Why don't you prove the charges? I have also been slapped with sedition charge, but then prove it. We also want the sedition charge against our leaders to be dropped," Gujjar said.
PNS general secretary Akhilesh Katiyar criticised the BJP governments at the Centre and in Gujarat and said the Patel community was not even allowed to protest. "Those who protest are charged with sedition. You deny us permission to organise a rally. The Gujarat government says there was no permission. But why is permission required if the purpose of our protest is to court arrest," Katiyar said. He added that they would intensify their agitation if their leaders were not released immediately.
Commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said on Monday that the Gujarat government was willing to engage with Patidar leaders and they should help sort out the issue amicably.