In a significant show of solidarity, members of the influential Patidar community in Gujarat have publicly thrown their weight behind senior IAS officer Rajendrakumar Patel, who is facing corruption charges. The community leaders have alleged that the officer is being deliberately targeted in the case.
Community Rally in Mandal
The support was demonstrated through a public rally held on Monday in Mandal, located in Ahmedabad district. The gathering was spearheaded by Varun Patel, a prominent figure from the 2015 Patidar reservation agitation. He was joined by other noted faces from the quota movement, including Manoj Panara and Gita Patel.
Following the rally, the group submitted a formal memorandum to the local Mamlatdar. The memorandum had a dual demand: seeking a law to regulate marriages after elopement and urging an end to what they called "biased behaviour towards Gujarati officers" across state government departments.
Allegations of Unfair Targeting
Addressing the attendees, Varun Patel launched a strong defence of the bureaucrat. "The government may say anything, Rajendra Patel is respectable and the pride of our clan and our community," he stated. Speaking to The Indian Express, Patel elaborated on the allegations of selective action.
"The government has taken action as if Rajendra Patel is a culprit and has taken money for granting change of land use applications," Varun Patel claimed. He further alleged, "In Gujarat, every collector takes money for granting non-agriculture use (applications). Same ED action should be taken against all the (district) collectors."
He argued that the survey numbers mentioned in the complaint against Rajendrakumar were granted NA (Non-Agricultural) permission during the tenure of his predecessor, implying the officer was being framed.
A Broader Political Conspiracy?
Varun Patel framed the issue within a larger political narrative, suggesting a systematic effort to sideline the Patidar community. "Rajendra Patel has been purely targeted. Earlier, a conspiracy was on to eliminate Patidars from the politics of Gujarat and now a conspiracy is on to eliminate Patidars and Gujaratis from the administration," he asserted.
To escalate the matter, the group announced plans to campaign across the state. They intend to meet the top four Patidar organisations in Gujarat to involve them directly in the issue, signalling a potential consolidation of community support for the officer.
Profile of the Officer
Rajendrakumar Patel, a former Collector of Surendranagar, is a 2014-batch IAS officer who secured an impressive All India Rank of 70 in the UPSC examinations. Hailing from Dumana village in Viramgam taluka of Ahmedabad district, he is a qualified Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS). Notably, he chose Gujarati Literature as his subject for the UPSC mains examination.
The case has brought the spotlight back on the complex interplay between bureaucracy, corruption allegations, and caste-based politics in Gujarat. The Patidar community's vocal support adds a significant dimension to the legal proceedings against the officer, potentially influencing the political discourse in the state.
