Hardik Patel accused the BJP of horse-trading in the build up to the 2017 Gujarat Assembly Election.
24-year-old activist Hardik Patel addressed a press conference today in Dholka, about 40 km from Ahmedabad, to clarify where he stands on supporting the Congress for next month's Gujarat assembly elections. The Congress, he said, has offered an acceptable solution for how to include Patels as beneficiaries of affirmative action policies.
On Tuesday, the Patidar activist said he and his party had never demanded any seats from the Congress for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly Election. Mr Patel further added that "
the BJP and the Congress are the same".
Here are the highlights of Hardik Patel's Press Conference:
Reiterating what he and his Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti have been demanding for, Hardik Patel said, "Aarakshan, Aarakshan and Aarakshan is all that I am concerned with and that is my primary focus."
Denying reports of his meet with Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, Hardik Patel said at the moment he has no meetings with anybody. He would decide on meeting Rahul Gandhi only after Mr Gandhi comes to Gujarat.
Denouncing the BJP rule as a dictatorship, Hardik Patel said that the BJP does not encourage any view other than their own. He said this is not democracy but dictatorship.
Appealing to the media to not believe in hearsay, Hardik Patel said he is the "sole person who will issue statements" going forth.
Patidar activist Hardik Patel said that Congress has agreed to incorporate the reservation formula in their manifesto for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly Election. However he maintained that he would not join any political party.
Hardik Patel announced in his press conference that Congress has accepted the Patidar's demand for reservation and that he and his party agree to the Congress formula for reservation.
Although Hardik Patel denounced the Congress on Tuesday and called it "
the same as BJP", he made his stance clear today at the press conference. Pledging support to the Congress, albeit indirectly, Mr Patel said that his fight is against the BJP. Other parties may directly or indirectly benefit from it.
In the press conference, Hardik Patel appealed to the voters in Gujarat and said they are intelligent enough to see through the BJP and their tricks.
Hardik Patel vows to fight the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and says he won't leave any stone unturned to end the 2 decade long rule.
Hardik Patel accused the BJP of indulging in rampant horse-trading. He alleged that BJP had offered Rs 50 lakh to Patidar convenors in North Gujarat.
Hardik Patel says he will not directly support the Congress but will fight the BJP.