Summary:
Vadodara, Jan 16 (PTI) Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Sunday asked the Gujarat government to take a decision on inclusion of the Patidar community in Other Backward Classes (OBC) category at the earliest.
Athawale was on a visit to the Statue of Unity at Kevadia in Narmada district.
"As far as the inclusion of Patidar community in OBC category is concerned, the (Social Justice and Empowerment) ministry has given the power to the states, and we also amended the Constitution for the same," Athawale told reporters.
"Now that we have given this power to the states, I would request the Gujarat government to take a decision to include the Patidar community in the OBC category at the earliest.
It will have my full support," Athawale, president of Republican party of India (A) and Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra, said.
In the visitors" book at the Statue of Unity, Athawale wrote that the dream of "Ek Bharat, Sreshtha Bharat" was made possible due to the efforts of Sardar Patel.