Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convener Hardik Patel announced the formation of Patel Navnirman Sena (PNS). Later in the day, he released its logo on social media sites. “The PNS will be a non-political body and work to protect the community”, said Hardik who had announced a few days earlier his intention to form such an outfit. “It will contribute to the development of the nation.'' He further said that PNS will bring Patels and other affiliated communities such as Kurmis and Gujjars together to demand OBC status and reservations.
“It will campaign for their demand for reservation in government jobs and education under OBC category,” said Hardik. He also claimed that PNS units had been formed in 16 states and that he was unanimously elected its national president. However, observers of the Patidar movement said that Hardik wants to replicate in Gujarat and in other states an organization like the Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena that was dominated by Patidars. The PAAS leader has publically called the late Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray his idol. The Maharashtra outfit responded by calling him `a hero'.
Some days back Hardik had said there was a difference between a leader and a politician. Observers say that Hardik's utterances indicate that PNS may pitch the peace-loving and progressive Patidar community against other local and migrant groups. This may not work in Gujarat which has a cosmopolitan culture with people from all parts of the country living together in harmony. Ghanshyam Shah, well-known sociologist, said that in 1981 and 1985, role models of the anti-reservation stir like the Shiv Sena and MNS had failed in Gujarat.
