Gujarat : Patidar Community Raises concern on crimes by youth

Ahmedabad: Manhar Patel, a prominent figure within the Patidar community and a leader of the Congress part in Gujarat, has voiced deep concern over the increasing inclination of youths within the community towards criminal activities in pursuit of greater financial gains. In a letter addressed to Patidar community leaders, Patel has urged for introspection and concerted efforts to foster awareness among the youth.

Highlighting the stark contrast between the community’s aspirations for human development and social welfare against the troubling trend of a growing criminal mindset among young individuals, Patel emphasized the need for immediate action. “While the community strives for the elevation of each village, aiming for representation in prestigious positions like IAS/IPS officers, the rise in criminal tendencies among our youth is a distressing indication. Failure to instill awareness among the next generation poses a significant risk to our community’s reputation,” Patel emphasized in his letter.

His concerns stem from recent state crime records that reveal an alarming statistic: nearly 50 percent of the accused in the notorious Thug gang case are youths from the Patidar community.

Patel drew attention to high-profile impersonation cases involving individuals from the community, citing examples such as Kiran Patel impersonating a PMO officer, Viraj Patel posing as a CMO officer, and instances involving Nikunj Patel and Neha Patel falsely claiming roles as a collector. The trend extends to various illegal activities, including counterfeit medicines, currency, ghee, diamonds, and passport frauds, with Patidar youths consistently appearing in the list of accused individuals.

Patel stressed the urgency for community leaders to convene and engage in comprehensive discussions regarding this concerning issue. He underscored the need to devise a robust strategy aimed at instilling awareness among the youth, urging Generation G to refrain from the allure of quick wealth through criminal means—a path that contradicts the ethical standards set by their ancestors.

In his letter, Patel called for proactive measures to guide and mentor the younger generation within the Patidar community, ensuring they uphold the community’s values and steer clear of criminal activities that tarnish not just individual lives but also the collective image of the community.