Patels plan Ekta Yatra from ‘secret’ location

Navsari collector Remya Mohan, however, said the administration would neither allow Ekta Yatra nor the proposed counter rally.

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Convener of the Samiti Hardik Patel had twice called off “reverse Dandi march” on September 6 and September 13. The yatra was put off for the first time when Navsari collector denied permission for it, and then the march was postponed once again after rapid developments last Saturday.

Hardik had announced Ekta Yatra from Dandi on September 19 after talks with Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Monday remained inconclusive.

The Samiti’s Surat unit convener, Alpesh Katheriya, said, “A large number of Patidars will gather at Kamrej crossroads on NH-8 in Surat district on Saturday at 5.30 am. Hardik Patel will also be present there, and later we will decide from where the rally should be taken out. At present, we cannot disclose the destination. We will take out rally from a secret destination.”

In a bid to counter the proposed Ekta Yatra, OBC and SC/ST community leaders under the banner of OBC-SC/ST Anamat Bachao Samiti made representations to collectors in south Gujarat, seeking permission to take out rallies in their respective areas.

Strict police arrangements have been made in Navsari district to thwart any untoward incident. Besides deploying policemen from neighbouring districts, companies of SRP, BSF, and RAF have been called in to maintain law and order.

Koli Patel leader from Navsari Kaushik Patel said, “We have today submitted fresh application to Navsari district collector to give (us) permission to take out a rally from Dandi to Eru crossroads in Navsari in the morning of September 19, if they (the authorities) give permission to the Patidars for taking out their rally. We have got support from 90 villages in Navsari district… If, Patidars take out rally without permission, then we will also take out rally from our fixed destinations.”

The OBC outfit also sought permission to hold a rally in Surat’s Bardoli town. Sarpanchs of 45 gram panchayats in Bardoli taluka, meanwhile, requested Deputy Collector K J Rathod not to allow any Patidar demonstration in the area.

The Patidars, hailing from different districts of Saurashtra and settled in Navsari and Bardoli, so far, have not come out in support of the Ekta Yatra, apparently due to fear of loss in business in event of violence. Neither Surat (Rural) SP Sandip Singh nor Navsari SP H S Bharada could be contacted despite repeated attempts.