Gujjars split over supporting Hardik Patel

New Delhi: Fissures emerged in the Gujjar community in Delhi over extending support to Patel community leader Hardik Patel.

Hardik Patel, who conducted a huge rally on August 25th in Ahmedabad for Patel community's inclusion in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category quota, arrived here on Sunday at the invitation of Kurmi and Gujjar, which organized a meet at the Gujjar Bhavan in Kotla village.

As Patel began his speech, a scuffle broke out between Rajendra Mavi Gujjar, who voiced his objection to the Gujjar community leaders sharing dais with Hardik Patel, who supported reservation for Jats, and other members of the Gujjar community.

Rajendra Mavi Gujjar is the national president of Akhil Bharatiya Gujjar Mahasangh.

"The same Gujjars who approached the Supreme Court opposing the reservation of Jats in the Supreme Court, how can they now share the dais with Hardik Patel, who supports reservation for Jats," asked Rajendra Mavi Gujjar.

"Most of the Gujjars have gathered here seeing the media reports without having any knowledge what is going to happen here," he added.

"There is a very powerful force behind the agitation and protests in Gujarat. How is it possible that the Patels, who are running the government in Gujarat, are organizing such protests? How are the Patels agitating against the Patels? How are they killing their own people, burning the houses of the Patels," he asked.

After a brief scuffle, Rajendra Mavi Gujjar was taken out of the venue and Hardik Patel finally managed to deliver his speech for almost 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, another Gujjar community leader Nathu Singh, a member of Inquilab Vikas Dal, however, said there was some misconception and there was no question of supporting Jats because they don't belong to the OBC category.

"Hardik Patel came here on my invitation and we wholly support him and will also take his support. I know he'll not support Jat reservation," said Singh.

"We will agitate if reservation is not given to us. Why can't let OBCs get reservation as, according to their population, the Gujjars, Kurmis, Patidar are one and we will have to unite," he added.

(with inputs from IANS)