Patidars don’t need Vitthal Radadiya’s mediation: Hardik

Surat: Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convener Hardik Patel said Patidar community does not need BJP Porbandar MP Vitthal Radadiya as a mediator to work out a compromise formula with the state government on its demand for reservation in jobs and education.
Hardik, who is currently lodged in Lajpore Central Jail (LCJ), was on Tuesday produced in Surat District and Sessions Court as a part of routine procedure after 14 days.While leaving the court campus on way back to jail, he said, "The community does not need traitors." This statement sparked a controversy within PAAS and young community leaders had to make clarifications later in the evening.
"The BJP government has cheated us. Patidars don't need Vitthal Radadiya. The community does not need traitors," Hardik said. He was replying to a question about Radadiya's statement of not keen to become a mediator in the talks for compromise between the state government and PAAS.
Asked about Hardik's statement against Radadiya, PAAS leader from the city Dharmik Malaviya, said: "Hardik did not call Radadiya a traitor. He had made two different statements. First statement was for Radadiya and his wish to not be a mediator and the second was meant for those working against the interests of the community."
Meanwhile, Hardik submitted an application in the court requesting he be given copies of his letters written from the jail. "He told the court that he had demanded copies of his letters twice in the recent past from the jail authorities, but was still not being given. Hence, Hardik submitted a written application to the court on Tuesday," Hardik's lawyer Yashwant Vala said. Hardik will be produced in the court again on May 24.
Hardik, who was spearheading the reservation movement for Patidars in Gujarat, is lodged in LCJ since October 2015. He had allegedly made the statement of ‘kill 2-4 cops' on October 3 to a supporter Vipul Desai in Mota Varachha area of the city. He was subsequently booked on sedition charges on October 18, 2015 and later arrested.