Hardik Patel to go ahead with reverse Dandi march today

The Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) has decided to go ahead with its ‘reverse Dandi march’ from Dandi to Ahmedabad on Sunday, despite the authorities’ denying permission.

PAAS convenor Hardik Patel, who is spearheading a movement seeking OBC status and reservations for the Patel community, said they would begin the yatra at 6 am but avoid using loudspeakers.

Patel would begin the march with 78 volunteers who would be present throughout the stretch, the organisers said adding the leader himself would try to be present for the maximum possible time.

While 10,000 supporters would be present at the beginning of the yatra, around 2,500 people are expected to undertake the yatra on vehicles.

Over 2.5 million likely

The organisers felt that the crowd could swell to 5 lakh by the time it reaches Surat and 1.5 million at the destination, Ahmedabad. The 20-day journey is expected to see participation of over 2.5 million people.  Though 13 days have been scheduled for the 350-km journey, seven more days have been kept on the reserve to tackle any disturbance.

Hardik’s U-turn

Patel, the 22-year-old leader who recently took Gujarat by storm, said on Thursday that they would embark on the yatra only after receiving the state government’s nod. But he and his supporters seemed to have changed their stand as the fight for leading the agitation got fierce. Voices of dissent have already evolved against Patel’s leadership for a section thinks he is more interested in individual glory than the community.