New Delhi: Hardik Patel, leader of the Patel agitation in Gujarat, on Wednesday announced plans to expand his movement across the country and began by batting for Gujjars in Delhi with a demand for return of their land acquired for various purposes.
Patel said his Akhil Bhartiya Patel Navnirman Sena (ABPNS), an umbrella organisation of Patels, Kurmis and Gujjars, will work for the rights of its communities in different parts of the country.
Beginning with Delhi, the 22-year-old Gujarati leader said, "When we came to Delhi, we learnt that our brothers' lands had been acquired at meagre amounts and now huge structures have come over there."
Addressing volunteers of ABPNS, he said, "We have to fight a battle for our Gujjar brothers. Whatever land that is available and where no work is happening should be given back to our Gujjar brothers."
He said a rally will be organised at Ramlila Maidan here to press the demand for return of the land of the Gujjars. He, however, did not specify when will the rally will take place.
Patel said important structures like the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Akshardham and the Parliament have been built on the land acquired form the Gujjar and Kurmi community leaders.
Sending a word of caution to the BJP, he said, "In Gujarat we saw that if anyone that has helped make a Prime Minister then it is us, so we should not be harmed".
Patel is already at loggerheads with the BJP-led government in his home state by leading an agitation for reservation for Patels there.
He insisted that he did not want to give any political shape to the newly-formed organisation but added that a decision on this will be taken at a time when required.
"It is a non-political entity where social issues will be discussed. Its job will be to protect the people of Patel, Kurmi and Gujjar community, farmers, workers and women.
"We have spread our organisation in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Chhatisgarh. We should built such a strong organisation that whenever the Patel Navnirman Sena make a call, the country must come to a standstill. There should be one voice of the Patels, Marathas, Kurmis, Gujjars," he said.
Asked about campaigning in poll-bound Bihar, Patel said he will hold five rallies in the state.
"It will mostly be aimed at building our organisation," he said but quickly added "I am supporting Nitish (Kumar) and not his party. He belongs to our community."
He said the Patel community will also hold rallies in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh next month.
Demanding early release of the caste census figures of 2011, Patel said it will understand the issues faced by the community in different states.
"Whatever is right is to be put forth. Discuss the issues and have a dialogue to make the country a world leader. If anyone can make India a world leader, it is only the Patels who can do it," he said.
He added that the organisation will strive to get OBC status for its community in Telangana and Andra Pradesh.
"In Telegu desh (Telangana and Andhra Pradesh), the Patel community was removed from the OBC list thrice and a fight must be fought for that," he said.
