'I won’t die for those who want to kill me,' says Hardik Patel on 15th day of hunger strike

Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel whose indefinite hunger strike has reached its 15th day is currently under the care of doctors in an Ahmedabad hospital. Patel was rushed to the hospital after his health deteriorated during the 14th day of his indefinite fast. However, it seems, even after his declining health condition, there is no decline in his grit, as on Saturday he sent out a message to his critics, saying, “I can die for those who love me and want to see me alive, however, I won’t die for those who want to kill me.”

The 25-year-old leader has been sitting on the indefinite hunger strike since August 25, the third anniversary of Patidar quota agitation, which had turned violent. The quota leader has been demanding loan waiver for farmers and reservation in government jobs and education for Patidars under other Backward class category.

READ | Hardik Patel Rushed To Hospital After His Health Deteriorates On The 14th Day Of His Indefinite Fast

Earlier in the day, Swami Agnivesh and Acharya Pramod Krishnam met with Patel in the hospital and urged him to break his fast. However, as per Hardik Patel’s official Twitter handle, the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti leader refused to do so.

A lot of political leaders and activists are making a beeline to meet with Hardik Patel. A few of the leaders, who came to visit Patel, namely are Sharad Yadav, A Raja, Yashwant Sinha, Shatrughan Sinha, among others.

Earlier on the 13th day of his fast, Hardik Patel accused the BJP of not caring for his fast, saying they won’t care if he dies as even 13 days of my fast they didn’t think about the farmers or the biggest community of Patels.

READ | HD Deve Gowda Urges Hardik Patel To End Indefinite Hunger Strike, Says ‘your Services Are Needed For This Country’

On September 3,  JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda penned down a letter for him, urging him to end his fast. While appreciating his courage to fight for farmers’ loan waiver and reservation for Patidar community, the former Prime Minister of India urged him to withdraw his hunger strike, owing to his repeatedly deteriorating health, saying, “your services are needed for this country to fight further for good causes.”

The former Chief Minister of Karnataka, who is also the father of the incumbent CM, HD Kumaraswamy, slammed the State and Central governments for delaying to form a Committee to implement Hardik Patel’s demands, which, he said, are in the “larger interest of the farmers and the younger generation.”