First of all, thank you
for writing a peace on the current movement and making me answerable to your
letter, point by point.
Let me start from the point one, as far as the language of the speech delivered by Hardik Patel on Maha Rally/Kranti Rally is concerned, yes I agree he has delivered it in Hindi and I don’t think there is any problem in it, because he was trying to address the whole nation and not only the Gujarat and Gujaratis. Indeed, people from other states have also participated in that rally who can’t understand Gujarati but understand Hindi easily. Today, reservation became a very important issue not only in Gujarat but also in each and every corner of the country. It requires nation-wide debate and discourse. Therefore, delivering his speech in Hindi language was a welcome step to start a new discourse in the history of the Independent India. Indeed, the discourse has been started across the country after this incidence. Today, people have started talking about merits and demerits of reservation, electronic media has started debating the issue, print media has started writing about it and people on social media are expressing their views freely. Apart from this don’t just look at this Maha Rally speech, look at all other speeches he has delivered since this movement started, he has delivered all his speeches in Gujarati. Therefore, language is not an issue at all, the important thing is the discourse/debate has started across the country.
Second, the movement is going on for last two month, therefore focusing and talking about reservation for 20 minute in his speech is an enough time. I didn’t found anything in his speech defaming Gujarat government or our Prime Minister, he was just addressing the ground realities and truth. The ground realities of the Gujarat is very different from what have been highlighted and projected. Someone has to address it, he has done it, nothing wrong in that it wasn't against anyone or any establishment. And, no one can impose their political views on anyone, everyone has their choice and preferences, if people will like it they will follow. In the present context, imposition of others ideas is not possible, this is the beauty of this great Democracy.
Third, the sentence you have picked up and mentioned in your letter was only in the context of reservation, and was for the Governments of all the states and central Government, So don’t try to manipulate it. Indeed, the word you have used “Al Queda Leader” for him is really dreadful and outrageous for the entire community and others as well, because he was representing whole community and others as well. If you have noticed properly.
Fourth, it was neither a challenge, nor an order to the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Everyone has right to express their views and expression, so I think It was expressions rather than challenge or order. And it’s up to the CM and government to decide whether she should come or not, therefore it’s not an issue.
Fifth, Yes, I agree that he has said the sentence which you have mentioned. And as per your view only that sentence has provoked the people toward violence, but it’s totally wrong. The true reasons for violence are many and everyone knows, which I have mentioned below in detail. Why you are only picking the targeted sentences, he has also said a lot about peaceful protest, you could have also highlighted that into your open letter. And everyone knows the real cause of the violence including you. Nowhere, in the history of the independent India people including women and elder people protesting peacefully have been LATHICHARGED/ATTACKED brutally, in a very short time of sitting on the fast. So, my dear friend address the root causes of the violence which we all including you already knows and also have evidences of it.
Yes, Reservation is Possible. Because, Article 368 of the constitution of India has given power to the Parliament to amend the Constitution, Laws and Procedure. Through this, government can make it possible. Additionally, do you know how many Castes were there in OBC when it was came into existence??? Do you know how many Castes were included in OBC till date??? If, not than visit this site, you will get the numbers.
If many number of
community/castes have been included in the list of OBCs, in aftermath of its
existence to till date, without doing proper survey, than why not Patel’s, Rajputs,
Darbar, Brahmins, Marathas and all Other Castes (OCs) included with doing
proper survey. Therefore, Reservation is possible, what requires is proper and
unbiased survey and political will.
Yes,
We really need Reservations. First, as you mentioned
Patidar is a Gujarati word for landowner. And in very Second line you wrote that
as the name suggest Patidar is the wealthiest castes across Gujarat, there is
no logic in it. Because, you have no idea about who are the real land-lords in
Gujarat. They are not Patel’s, in each and every community there are land-lords.
I can saw you many landlords who are getting benefits of the reservations,
especially in OBCs. Yes, I agree with you that most of the industries of
Gujarat are dominated by the Patel’s, but what percentage they are of total
population of the Patel’s? They may be 10 or 12or 15 percent, what about the
rest of the people. Further, You have said most of the Indian immigration in
the USA are Patel’s, but you have not said why they gone there? Why they have
to leave their own country? Find out the answers of these questions to know the
real situation. As far as the issue of Mercedes and luxurious cars are
concerned they have gathered there to help and support the community, and
nothing is wrong in helping the community. Therefore, that is not an issue. As
far as the issue of an institutions are concerned, No institution, can go
against the reservation policy of the Government, and if, in case institutions
run by Patel’s will give admission to the Patel’s beyond the reservation
policy, people like you come out and raise the voice. Not, many but majority of the farmers are
suffering from the failure of crops due to water scarcity, high rate of
fertilizers and agro products, here I am talking about all the farmers and not
only Patel’s. The present condition of all the farmers are very critical.
Government must focus on the farmers and the issues faced by them.
I support this movement, PATIDAR ANDOLAN MOVEMENT, because injustice in education and Jobs will not be tolerated. Government must change their reservation policy, all who belongs to GENERAL category are not rich and all who belongs to reservation are not poor. ALL PATEL’S ARE NOT RICH, this mind set needs to be change. Similarly, ALL WHO BELONGS TO GENERAL CATEGORY ARE NOT RICH. What about those students who have very good academic records, very good merit but does not have very good economic condition and in addition belongs to the General Category, and due to this reason they does not get admission in institutions and universities. Where will they go??? How they will pursue their education??? Who will pay their fees in lakhs??? What about their future??? Therefore, I believes that only needy person/people must get reservation, irrespective of Castes, Community and Religion.
Yes, this movement was
totally peaceful. First of all the rallies were going on since last 55 days,
very peacefully. Even in Surat rally more than five lakhs people have joined
and was ended peacefully. Second, yes I agree with you that government,
especially the police has cooperated in organizing this Maha rally. It went
peacefully, ended peacefully as per the last 55 days. But, the questions comes
here is that why the rallies going on peacefully since last 55 days including Maha rally of 5th August, suddenly
turned violent??? The other most
important question is that, why the police cooperating peacefully till evening
become violent suddenly??? Why there was a need to cordon the GMDC ground when
there were very few protesters at the ground??? Why people have been
latchicharged brutally, including women and elder people??? Why, Hardik Patel
was arrested only for the 25 minutes??? Who have ordered for the lathicharge on
the peaceful protesters when everything went peacefully? These all are very
serious questions and tells a lot. Nowhere, in the history of the independent
India people who are protesting peacefully have been lathicharged in just few
hours of peaceful protest like this. We have many examples of peaceful protest and
hunger strike gone for many days without lathicharge or brutal attack, the Anna
hazare movement is a great example of it. But, why there was a need to attack
on People protesting peacefully at GMDC??? The truth is coming out these days.
Why police were damaging the properties of only Patel’s??? Why they have used
derogatory language and insulting demand from women???
Yes, I am agree that burning buses and damaging public property is not a right way for any agitation, but before that you must carefully look at all above serious questions. And my dear friend have a courage to address the fact from both the side.
As far as fighting for community is concerned, Yes we are fighting for our community and we have been also supported by several other communities as well. But, if this movement will result in changing the current reservation policy or if reservation on the basis of Economically Backword Class (EBC) will introduced who will get benefit of that? Not only Patidar’s, but people from each and every castes and community will get benefits of it, if EBC will be introduced. Therefore, this movement have been started by the Patidar’s but it will result in benefit for all. The important point is the movement has started. It was not about demonstrating our power, but in reality it was the pain of the people which forced them to join this movement. And that’s why people from other communities have supported this movement. If it was about demonstrating/showing power, than very few people have joined this movement, we could have not get support from other communities and why should we show our power? Therefore, this movement is not against anyone or any community, our fight is direct with government, our stand is clear. Therefore, if anyone is making false claim that this movement is against some castes or community than its totally wrong. There is no rationality in such kind of false argument, be aware of such kind of people and their false arguments. They might have several hidden interest in making false arguments about this movement. Why should we oppose anyone or any community?
Now, coming to the solutions part, Your first idea of removing entire caste based reservation and making entire country free from reservation is not fair, because it would have disastrous repercussions.
Second, I have been always supporter of the reservation based on the Economic Condition and not on the Castes, Community and Religion. Therefore, I agree with the second solution, which is remove caste based reservation and introduce Economically Backword Class (EBC). Reservation must be given on the basis of Economic Condition, and not on the basis of the Caste Community and Religion. If, the government introduce this, than it would be welcoming step, for the entire nation. Because very few people are getting the real benefits of the current reservation policy among the reserved categories. The present reservation system has increased the gap between two communities following under the reserved categories, because only very few or who are in higher position are getting the real benefits of reservations. The really needy people among the reserved castes and community are still waiting for the fruits of the reservations. At the same time, the poor and needy people, who don’t comes under the reservation are still waiting for the benefits of the reservation. Therefore, now it’s time to change the reservation criteria, it must be based only on the Economic Conditions and not on the Caste, Community and Religion. To do this, people from each and every corner of the country must raise their voice and create a NEW DISCOURSE/DEBATE on reservation. Government must take it seriously, Nav Nirman Andolan which later became JP Movement, is a big example for government to take this movement seriously.
And, finally whether you will agree with me or not, this two month agitation have been successful and has given a new discourse to the country, now people, media, academicians, education institutions and religious organizations have started discourse on reservation. Only, politicians who are in power are not talking about it clearly and with courage. They, need to talk about it seriously, to change the current system.
Jay
Sardar….Jay Hind.
Mayur Dumaniya,
Ph.D. Candidate,
Centre for Studies
in International Politics and Governance,
Central University
of Gujarat,
Sector-29/30,
Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
