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Interview

Patel Andolan, Gujarat Model and New Political Party: Interview with Youth Icon of Gujarat, Chirag Patel

To understand the background and context of Patel Anamat Andolan and Gujarat model, the Critical Mirror (TCM) team had an informative talk with the Convener of Patel Reservation Movement and Gujarat Youth Icon, Shri Chirag Patel. On behalf of the Critical Mirror, its editor Mr. Nurul Hoda took the interview.

Patel Anamat Movement: Lets first talk about Patel movement. Indeed, the country’s present Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has made a hat-trick of victory in Gujarat wherein Patidar voters played a crucial role. For 15 years in Gujarat, Narendra Modi became the Chief Minister and then he went on to become the country’s Prime Minister. But Patels were used only as a vote bank. They continue to live and grapple with their basic needs, such as education and employment. But Patels are quickly to see the emptiness and hollowness of Modi’s illusion.  This resulted in a very big anamat movement in Gujarat demanding inclusion of Patels in OBC reservation, whose guiding force was Patel youth leader like Chirag Patel. But very few people outside Gujarat know this fact and the role of Chirag Patel. Because the suit-boot ki media in Delhi did not showcase him in front of the world.  Due to the Patel movement, Chirag Patel is fighting a sedition case and has also gone to jail. But with the honesty and hard work, Chirag Patel has emerged with the movement and trying to secure fundamental rights to his society, he has emerged as the icon of youth in Gujarat.

Gujarat Model: On his strength of this concept Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister of India. Wherever there is any program, our PM tends to say that if one like to see development, then he/she should come to Gujarat. What is the truth behind this Gujarat model? What people find and what they lose after coming to Gujarat? Even today it is very hard to locate development in the remote villages. Even today one can find the practices of untouchability and the closed mindsets on social inclusion. People from all walks of life are struggling every day for accessing better school and medical facilities. If this model get apply to all India level then the people will be divided, based on class or in the name of caste. If you talk about Gujarat, somewhere, this non-inclusive development model of the state government has left a lot of trouble for the Patel people of Gujarat, they are forced to come out in the street demanding development and share in government employment.

The Critical Mirror (TCM) – Gujarat assembly election is the coming soon; the Patidar people are not happy with this government. Do you support any party? Or will you launch your own party or is there any such plan that you can stop this ruling party (i.e. BJP) from coming back to power?

Chirag Patel – There are two ruling parties in Gujarat now, one is the BJP and the other Congress.

Chirag Patel

When the BJP is in power, the Congress is in the opposition, but it is a matter of great sadness that the Congress could never played on the role of the opposition effectively. Despite the public posturing that these parties are competing face to face, but both from inside are one. Both are together to loot Gujarat as well as the people of the entire country. That is why our enemy, who is fighting against us, our reply should be in the same language that the enemy understands. The Gujarat government is not able to understand neither the language of peace or the language of movement. It just understands the language of the ‘Chair’. Therefore, we have decided that we will answer him in his language.

TCM – So will you launch your own party, what will be its name?

Chirag Patel – Yes, we will formulate our own party. Our preparations are going on for this. Now the name of the party name will not be revealed. On August 15, i.e. Independence Day for celebrating Independence, we will announce name of the political party and launch it formally.

TCM – Will your party contest elections in alliances with other parties or alone and on how many seats?

Chirag Patel – The Core Committee of the party will decide whether the elections are to be fought alone or with coalition. As far as seats are concerned, we are preparing to contest on 182 seats.

The Gujarat model is just hot air in the balloon. School education has become expensive. The poor and the farmers cannot give good education to their children. Youth are not getting employment.

TCM – If you contest this year, what will be the issues for you to confront the existing government and how many communities will get their representation in your political party? 

Chirag Patel – Our party will contest election on the issues alone. The issue will be the issue of women’s safety, the interests of farmers, the future of education, health and youth. A political party does not belong to any community. Parties get formed on issues and their existence is to work on these issues. Now you can see what happened in Uttar Pradesh assembly election. The whole election was fought over in the talk on donkeys: Gujarat donkeys are better or UP donkeys. We do not have to talk about donkeys, we will talk only about issues.

TCM – Speaking among anchors and the people sitting in Delhi’s TV studios, PM Modi says that to see the development one need to go to Gujarat. This is what all the media of Delhi say. After all, what is this Gujarat model?

Chirag Patel – The Gujarat model is just hot air in the balloon. School education has become expensive. The poor and the farmers cannot give good education to their children. Youth are not getting employment. If the PM from the country speaks of the Gujarat model, then this is the Gujarat model. What I have said right now.

The role of youth in any political party starts with carrying the flag of the party, sloganeering and ends up with the politics of hate. But we will work to bind the whole of India with brotherhood.

TCM – You are the youth icon of Gujarat. Would like to give any message to Youth?

Chirag Patel – Youth is the future of this country. But no political parties have ever been formed to give youth a political chance. The lacuna lies with us. The role of youth in any political party starts with carrying the flag of the party, sloganeering and ends up with the politics of hate. But we will work to bind the whole of India with brotherhood. For that, young people must come openly into politics.

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The Critical Mirror stands for critical and intellectual journalism that offer unbiased and independent analysis of social, political, economic, institutional and individual events affecting and shaping the life and aspirations of the people. It intends to contribute to conscious citizenry, responsive governance, and vibrant democracy. It will cover all issues that help in making our governance system more transparent, accountable and inclusive. The Mirror will show the bare truth and harsh realities of politics, society and institutions that affect people’s daily lives.

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