Hardik Patel takes fast into 15th day from hospital; Sharad Yadav says fight requires strength after meeting Patidar leader

Ahmedabad: Patidar leader Hardik Patel’s indefinite fast for reservation for his community and farm loan waiver entered 15th day on Saturday as he continued his agitation from a hospital bed. [caption id=“attachment_5139351” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Khodaldham trustee Naresh Patel meets Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel. PTI[/caption] Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and former Union minister A Raja visited Patel at the hospital and extended support to him. Hardik, who is on a hunger strike from 25 August, was admitted to a hospital on Friday after his health deteriorated. “…Sharad Yadav-ji came to meet me in the hospital. He has supported my fight for social justice and farmers’ right. Quite impressed by him,” Hardik tweeted. He also tweeted a photo of Raja arriving at the hospital and said the DMK has declared support for him. Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) spokesperson Manoj Panara said that Hardik’s fast continues. “He has not eaten anything but has only had water. Our fight will continue until all our demands are met,” Panara said. After meeting Hardik, Yadav said he advised him to start taking food. “I told him that his fight requires him to have strength. So he should start intake of food and water,” Yadav told reporters.

किसानों की क़र्ज़ा माफी और आरक्षण को लेकर चल रहे अनिश्चितकालीन उपवास आंदोलन के पंद्रहवें दिन तमिलनाडु से DMK के वरिष्ठ नेता और पूर्व केंद्रीय मंत्री ए.राजा अस्पताल में मुझे मिलने आए.उन्हों ने कहा की हम आपके साथ है और लड़ाई बिलकुल सही हैं। pic.twitter.com/7k68pN7qdw

— Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) September 8, 2018

Hardik was first shifted to the Sola Civil Hospital by his supporters on Friday as his health deteriorated, and later to the privately-run SGVP Holistic Hospital. At the Sola Civil Hospital, he was administered glucose. The hospital had said in a release that his vital parameters were normal. Hardik launched his indefinite fast on 25 August from his house in Ahemdabad, demanding reservations in government jobs and education for the Patidars and loan waiver for farmers. Later, he added another demand that his close aide Alpesh Kathiria, who was recently arrested in a 2015 sedition case by the Ahmedabad Police, be released.

अनिश्चितकालीन उपवास आंदोलन के पंद्रहवें दिन पूर्व केंद्रीय मंत्री @SharadYadavMP जी अस्पताल में मुझे मिलने आए. उनसे मिलकर काफी प्रभावित हुआ और उन्होंने सामाजिक न्याय एवं किसानों की लड़ाई में पूरा समर्थन किया। pic.twitter.com/5dmYKkeFgH

— Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) September 8, 2018

The BJP government in Gujarat said on Friday that it was open to talks with everybody, while his supporters claimed that it had not reached out to Hardik for talks so far.