The OBC battle set-off by Upward Caste is upsetting apple cart of development

Till two weeks ago, the name Hardik Patel hardly rang any bell. Post the Patidar convention in Gujarat, in just few days, he met political leaders, both from state and national parties. Hardik Patel had arrived on the national scene, big time.

The gun-toting 22-year-old youth from Patidar community is now the face of the unrest that has been brewing in Gujarat for quite a while now. The Patel community wants reservation in Other Backward Caste (OBC) category, claiming that their caste has been deprived of the benefits of development in Modi’s Gujarat.

In other words, Patidars, who are considered affluent and hold on some major businesses and diamond trade, say they have not tasted the slice of ‘vibrant Gujarat’.

The huge convention, which took Gujarat by storm, has indicated the most significant tectonic shift in the national politics as well. Analysts and Modi’s detractors are in a hurry to call this a phase where fissures in Modi’s Gujarat have begun to show.

But, what most people have refused to see is the fact that this is a politically motivated congregation that has more to do with dissidence than a rightful demand of being included in OBC category. Because, as per the Constitution and the existing provisions, Patidars will never make it to the list.

And this is not for the reason that Gujarat has exhausted its reservation quota allocated to the state, which should not cross 50%; but for the reason that it is a challenge to prove with facts and figures that Patidars are indeed a deprived community.

Patidars are politically strong, well-connected and are highly influential in Gujarat’s businesses. Till the late 1970s, they supported the Congress party. And during 80s-90s, they shifted their loyalties to the Bharatiya Janata Party and decided to bring about a change. They formed a strong support base for the lotus party and transformed the anger against Congress into strength of the BJP. The success saga then rolled out, and there was no stopping it. At least, not until recently.

The huge popularity of Modi sent the political charts soaring. Gujarat, which has always had a huge influence on Indian politics right from the freedom struggle, created a PM out of Modi and sent him to Delhi projecting Gujarat as the best model that the rest of the country needs to follow.

Now with Maha Kranti Rally, Gujarat seems to have stood at cross-roads again. Were those tall claims of development not true? What is the matter with Patidars who are now demanding their ‘slice’ of development cake, when they stood mum while the world watched Gujarat turn into a fine example?

Clearly, Hardik is a part of bigger political vendetta against Modi. This is much like a sibling rivalry with one child crying for attention, no sooner does the parent shifts the attention to another baby. It’s a normal phenomenon, and there isn’t anything unnatural about it.

But, understanding the issue in such a simple manner won’t help the situation. Because the Maha Kranti Rally wasn’t anything like that. More than five lakh people came together to demand their OBC status through the rally. Does it mean anything to the state or the Centre?

Yes, it does. Firstly, the claims of depravation undo Modi’s projection of Gujarat. They show him in such poor light that the rest of India will soon begin to get restless and start similar agitations too. How and who funded the rally of five lakh people? It, surely, wasn’t a voluntary act. Hardik, a commerce graduate, who cannot manage much of national branding for himself, extensively travelled the state in the last few years to consolidate people.

JD(U) and AAP have already supported Hardik unconditionally. This wasn’t tip-toeing into a space of dissidence. This gesture was a clear indication to PM Modi that if he did not pay heed to their demands and take them into confidence, such Hardiks can breed all over the country much to his disdain.

India has managed an electoral feat with single party getting the largest majority only last year. Till then, the country was torn in different directions owing to coalition governments and scams. Time was ripe for the gold to be sown and reaped. Just when this was about to happen, Hardik happened and the road ahead looks a bit too hazy to be clear.

(Image: Indiatimes)