Hardik Patel ended his hunger strike after 19 days

Quota spearhead Hardik Patel ended his hunger strike on Wednesday after 19 days, even as there were no talks between him and the Gujarat government over the leader's demands for reservation to Patidars and farm loan waiver.

Hardik broke his fast by having lemonade from the hands of Patidar community leaders Naresh Patel and CK Patel.

He said however that his fight for reservation for the community and farm loan waiver “would continue".

Hardik had begun his indefinite hunger strike on August 25 at his residence near here, demanding reservation for Patidars under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category and loan waiver for Gujarat farmers.

Later, a demand for release of his aide Alpesh Katheria, who was arrested on charges of sedition, was also



added.

The 25-year-old quota agitation leader was admitted to a hospital after his health deteriorated last Friday—the 14th day of his fast.

After spending two days in hospital, he had returned to his house and continued the hunger strike.

While he had started taking liquids and was administered glucose at the hospital, the Patidar leader claimed he did not take any solid food during the fast.

On September 4, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Gujarat government had reacted to the agitation and claimed that Hardik's quota movement was a "politically-motivated" agitation with the backing of the Congress.

State Energy Minister Saurabh Patel had then said that the government's doors were open for talks, but no negotiations were held.