Under pressure from the protesting Patels, the Gujarat government today announced a Rs. 1000-crore special package for students that will be applicable to all castes. The only qualifying factors for the students will be merit and a low income. The government's gesture is seen as an affirmative action that bypasses Hardik Patel's demand for quota for the influential Patels similar to the backward castes, or no quota for anyone at all.
