Quota stir leader Hardik Patel calls for Gujarat ’bandh’; curfew imposed, internet servi

Mangalore Today News Network

Aug 26, 2015: Hardik Patel, 22, the convenor of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), who was on Tuesday briefly detained over his hunger strike to demand Other Backward Class (OBC) reservation for the Patel community, called for a state-wide bandh on Wednesday to intensify the agitation.

 

Home Minister Rajnath Singh calls on Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel and enquires regarding the law and order situation in the state.

Home Ministry rushes additional paramilitary forces to Gujarat as per the request made by the state government.

Chief Minister Anandiben Patel appeales to the people of Gujarat to maintain peace and not to indulge in activities disrupting law and order across the state in light of the violent protests by members of the Patel community across the city.

Reacting to the Patel community agitation, Congress leader Manish Tewari terms the agitation as a failure of Narendra Modi’s Gujarat model.

Tewari further says that if a economically and socially backward Patel community demands reservation then what is the fault of Brahmins, Rajputs and Bhumiyars.

The protesting Patel community virtually swamped Gujarat’s capital in a mammoth rally on Tuesday. However some people resorted to arson, stone-pelting and vandalism after brief detention of Hardik, following which curfew was tonight imposed in Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Vadodara and Rajkot.

The state government has deployed paramilitary forces to thwart any untoward incident.

Hardik urged his community members to maintain peace as several parts of Gujarat witnessed incidents of violence.

"I make an appeal to maintain peace and keep calm. I give a call for Gujarat bandh tomorrow,” said the PAAS convenor.

"This decision has been taken by Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti considering widespread violence in the state," the 22-year-old which is spearheading the agitation, said last night.

Addressing the massive gathering of the community, Patel pointed out that the Patidars had proved what they were capable of doing if denied their rightful due -- clearly hinting at the vote bank power of the estimated six million plus community in the state.

Giving a 48-hour ultimatum to the government, Patel demanded that the chief minister should visit the venue and collect the PAAS memorandum, failing which he would launch an indefinite hunger strike on the dais.

Most parts of Gujarat and the entire Ahmedabad observed a shutdown of all business establishments, schools and colleges to facilitate the participation of Patidars in the rally.

The Patel community of Gujarat has been agitating for around a month to fulfil their demands of reservation under the OBC status.