PAAS asks Rahul Gandhi to take up jailed Patel leaders' issue

Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), which is leading the Quota stir for Patels, today said it wants Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to take up the issue of their jailed leaders facing sedition charges.

Drawing parallels between the ongoing JNU row and their leaders facing sedition charges in Gujarat, PAAS spokesperson Varun Patel said Rahul Gandhi is only interested in JNU students and has completely ignored PAAS leaders, including Hardik Patel, who are behind bars for the past four months under sedition charges.

"As soon as police booked some JNU students under sedition charges, Rahul immediately swung into action and went to JNU campus in support of these students. He even met the President and made a representation about the issue and urged him to save the democracy," Varun said during a press conference.

"Many of our Patel leaders are lodged in jail (in Gujarat) for past four months in false sedition cases. I want to ask Rahul Gandhi where was he when our leaders were booked? Why he never raised his voice? If he can extend support to JNU students, then he can show solidarity with our leaders too," said Patel.

He warned Congress of grave consequences if the party and its leaders fail to do their bit in the case of jailed Patel leaders.

"PAAS wants Rahul Gandhi to take up the issue of sedition cases against our leaders and visit Gujarat at the earliest. We also want him to make similar representation to the President. If he will not come here, we will believe that he is not interested in our cause," said Patel.

The spokesperson said Congress must remember that it was Patel voters who made them victorious in the recently held panchayat polls and warned that if they fail to do something about the issue, the party will have to face the wrath of Patel voters in 2017 Assembly elections.

Patel quota stir spearhead Hardik Patel is lodged in Lajpore Hail in Surat since September in two sedition cases, while his three close aides are also behind bars in sedition case.

JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested under sedition charges in a sedition case lodged in connection with an event held on the JNU campus where anti-national slogans were raised allegedly.