Gujarat government accepts in principle three demands of PAAS

GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat government has in principle agreed to accept four out of three demands made by Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), and announced formal steps will be taken shortly after the next meeting with PAAS conveners. The government has asked PAAS to provide details of precedents, if the issue of reservation is to be considered at the next meeting.
It has agreed to consider the demand for a Patidar Development Commission, withdrawal of all cases registered against Patidar agitators, and compensation for victims who died during the Patidar agitation in 2015.
“The government is also open to withdraw sedition cases (against Hardik and others) if they are keen to reach a solution and support peace and progress in the state,” said Nitin Patel, deputy chief minister of Gujarat, during a media briefing.
The state government believes it is not possible to grant reservation for Patidars under current law of the land, and asked PAAS to provide valid legal grounds, or documents citing precedents for their demand, so that the issue may be considered in the next meeting.
“CM Rupani is positive about three out of four issues, representation for which was made by PAAS before the three-member committee of ministers last week,” Patel said.
“The government is positive about the demand for Patidar or non-reserved category caste welfare commission. We will further discuss their demand for reservation in the next meeting,” Patel said.
“The CM is ready to address issues of all communities,” said Patel, adding, “We discussed the four issues raised by PAAS with the CM. He has instructed us to solve as many issues as possible.”
“We also informed PAAS conveners that the government has already paid compensation to victims who died in the agitation, and have withdrawn most police cases,” said Patel.
“We have taken steps against police officials, and will take all possible action,” Patel said.
Speaking about the demand for reservation of Patidars, Patel said, “We had asked PAAS conveners during the meeting last week that they should submit notification, order, and details of any state government having given reservation quota beyond 49% after the 1994 order of the Supreme Court.”
“The government wanted to study such documents and think over the issue. However, no documents or precedents supporting their demand for reservation has yet been submitted by PAAS,” said Patel, adding, “They may be in the process of collecting documents.”
“Minister Pradipsinh Jadeja is maintaining contact with them, so the issue may be taken up in the next meeting, whenever that takes place,” added Patel.
“If PAAS wishes ‘Other Backward Class(OBC)’ status for Patidars, it needs to apply before OBC Commission for that. The government has assured that it will ask OBC Commission to speed up the survey and other processes in such case,” said Patel, adding, “Any reservation quota within 49% has to be given as per constitutional provisions, because otherwise the court will disapprove and turn down the decision eventually.”
He also said that the Gujarat government is committed to give EBC (Economically Backward Class) reservation if the Supreme Court approves it.