Gujarat government has announced 10% reservation for economically backward classes (EBCs) in general category. EBCs in the upper castes, include Patidars, with a family income cap of 6 lakh rupees a year that is 50000 rupees per month can avail the benefit. This decision will breach the Supreme Court set reservation limit of 50 percent as the government is already providing 50 percent reservation to Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. But, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government of Gujarat is serious on the issue and declared that it would fight it out legally.

The BJP government has been facing violent protests led by Hardik Patel and Lalji Patel from the numerically and socially strong Patel community which is seeking reservation in education and government jobs under the OBC category. The BJP had suffered heavy losses in the rural local bodies polls recently, which were blamed on the Patel quota stir.

The Opposition Congress said the announcement of 10 per cent quota for EBCs was “deceptive” and meant to assuage the Patel community. The crucial decision was taken at the state BJP unit’s core group meeting which was also attended by national president Amit Shah.