India's Patel community rally over quotas

BBC, NEW DELHI: Tens of thousands of people of Gujarat's Patel community have attended a rally in India's Ahmedabad city to demand affirmative action for better access to jobs and education.
The meeting was addressed by Hardik Patel, a 21-year-old controversial community leader. Patels comprise 20% of the population of Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
They are also the most economically influential community in the state.
Patels control India's thriving diamond cutting and polishing industry and are among the most prosperous businessmen and farmers in Gujarat.
But a slowdown in small and medium industries - where many Patels are employed - in Gujarat has led to a drying up of employment opportunities, reports say.

Indias Patel community rally over quotas

BBC, NEW DELHI: Tens of thousands of people of Gujarats Patel community have attended a rally in Indias Ahmedabad city to demand affirmative action for better access to jobs and education. The meeting was addressed by Hardik Patel, a 21-year-old controversial community leader. Patels comprise 20% of the population of Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They are also the most economically influential community in the state. Patels control Indias thriving diamond cutting and polishing industry and are among the most prosperous businessmen and farmers in Gujarat. But a slowdown in small and medium industries - where many Patels are employed - in Gujarat has led to a drying up of employment opportunities, reports say.