After an embarrassing end to his 19-day fast against the Gujarat government, Hardik Patel has now decided to focus on his health, reports DNA. He has reportedly decided to take a month-long break to create a new strategy to pressurize the government to accepts his demands, as his ‘indefinite hunger strike’ did not yield any results.
According to reports, Hardik Patel will be now heading to Jindal Institute of Naturopathy in Bengaluru for a detox programme. One of the PAAS leaders has reportedly said that Hardik Patel may have suffered Kidney problems as a result of his long fast and is planning to go on a break to regain the lost health. It is being reported that once Hardik Patel comes back from the retreat, he would think of new strategies to fulfil his demands. “It is also possible that he may start Bharat Bhraman Yatra approaching different leaders across the nation for support,” said Hardik’s close aide.
“The fast caught the attention of very few people in Gujarat, although several controversies started during the 19 days and many political celebrities visited him,” said a leader close to Patel. “This has forced Hardik (Patel) to think of other ways of protest against the BJP government and he will muse on the same during his month-long break”, the aide added.
Hardik Patel, once the face of Patidar agitation is now seen as a controversial leader of the community. Hardik Patel seems to have lost the plot in the Patidar agitation, as he had to end his indefinite fast on the 19th day, as it turned out to be counterproductive for him, as not only Gujarat government did not give any importance to it, but also some section of Patidar community seem to have upset about Hardik causing embarrassment to their community.
Hardik Patel started his ‘indefinite fast’ on August 25 in Ahmedabad demanding reservation for Patidars in government jobs and higher education and debt waiver for farmers. A controversy had erupted during his fast, as the PAAS leader had refused to let doctors take blood and urine tests and also let doctors weigh him. It was reported that despite not having food, Hardik Patel had actually gained weight.
Hardik Patel is now convicted for causing riots in Mehasana and has been found guilty of charges related to arson and creating a ruckus at the office of BJP MLA Rushikesh Patel. He is also accused of large-scale violence in the state of Gujarat during the 2015 Patidar Andolan seeking reservations for Patidar community. A sedition case is also going on against him in an Ahmedabad court.
