Gandhinagar, Sep 4: The Gujarat government appealed to Patidar agitation leader Hardik Patel, whose indefinite fast entered the 11th day on Tuesday, to follow the advice of doctors checking up on him. The state energy minister Saurabh Patel said the government is worried about declining health of Hardik Patel. The 25-year-old Patel leader, on August 24 evening, had given up drinking water though his health appeared deteriorating till a religious leader of the Patidar community got him to at least consume water.

“We are worried about Hardik’s health and the government has deployed a fully equipped ICU on wheels ambulance outside his house round-the-clock. He is not following the advice of doctors who have been checking him and we appeal to him to co-operate with doctors,” Saurabh Patel told a news channel. The minister, however, maintained that the Congress motivated and sponspored Hardik's fast-unto death. Earlier, the Congress' national spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil urged the state government to talk to the quota spearhead to break the deadlock.

The Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader is on fast to press for his demand for reservations to the Patidars, loan waiver for farmers and release of his aide Alpesh Kathiria, who is in jail on sedition charges. On the ninth day, Hardik declared his will and made his parents Bharat Patel and Usha Patel his heirs, besides a gaushala in his native village Chandranagar in Ahmedabad district.

Hardik Patel stated: "I have been fasting against the BJP government since August 25. My body is becoming shrill and suffering from pain, disease, infections and internal injuries. In these circumstances, my soul can depart from this body at any time so I decided to declare my last wish." Medha Patkar Not Allowed to Meet Hardik Patel at Fast Venue.

Accordingly, Hardik's close associate and Morbi convener Manoj Panara informed reporters that if anything happened to him during this indefinite fast, Rs 30,000 out of his total bank deposits of Rs 50,000 in a private bank will be given to his parents and the remaining money will be donated to the 'Gaushala' near his native village.

Patel has expressed his wish to distribute 30 per cent income of his yet-to-be published book, 'Who Took My Job', to his parents and sister and 70 per cent to the families of 14 Patidar youths who had lost their lives allegedly in police firing during violence in quota agitation in August 2015. His last desire is to donate his eyes after his death.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 04, 2018 05:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).