This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-34048678
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| India's Patel community rally over caste quotas | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tens of thousands of people of Gujarat's Patel community have attended a rally in India's Ahmedabad city to demand affirmative action for better access to jobs and education. | |
| The meeting was addressed by Hardik Patel, a 21-year-old controversial community leader. | |
| Patels comprise 20% of the population of Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. | Patels comprise 20% of the population of Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. |
| They are also the most economically influential community in the state. | They are also the most economically influential community in the state. |
| Patels control India's thriving diamond cutting and polishing industry and are among the most prosperous businessmen and farmers in Gujarat. | Patels control India's thriving diamond cutting and polishing industry and are among the most prosperous businessmen and farmers in Gujarat. |
| But a slowdown in small and medium industries - where many Patels are employed - in Gujarat has led to a drying up of employment opportunities, reports say. | But a slowdown in small and medium industries - where many Patels are employed - in Gujarat has led to a drying up of employment opportunities, reports say. |
| Led by Hardik Patel, a feisty, upcoming community leader and a businessman himself, the Patels are now demanding affirmative action and classification as Other Backward Classes (OBCs) so that they are entitled to quotas in state-run education centres and in government jobs. | |
| The BBC's Geeta Pandey in Ahmedabad says at least 300,000 people turned up for Tuesday's meeting amid tight security. | |
| The organisers of the rally roped in 2,500 volunteers to manage the crowds and keep peace, our correspondent says. | |
| "We are not against any community. We are fighting for our rights," Mr Patel told the packed audience. | "We are not against any community. We are fighting for our rights," Mr Patel told the packed audience. |
| "If this government does not heed our demands, the lotus will not bloom in 2017," he was quoted as saying by the NDTV news channel. | |
| The lotus is the election symbol of the BJP, which is also running the government in Gujarat, where elections are due in 2017. | |
| Mr Patel said the community members would call off the agitation "the day the government will indicate that it is willing to give us reservation [quotas]". | |
| Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has rejected their demand and urged community leaders to hold talks with the government. | Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has rejected their demand and urged community leaders to hold talks with the government. |
| "Her appeal means nothing... it is just to create confusion on the agitation... had she been serious, she would have announced something concrete," Mr Patel was quoted as saying by the NDTV news channel. | "Her appeal means nothing... it is just to create confusion on the agitation... had she been serious, she would have announced something concrete," Mr Patel was quoted as saying by the NDTV news channel. |