Patidar rally marred by vandalism

22-year-old Hardik Patel, who was briefly detained over his hunger strike to demand OBC reservation for the Patel community, called for a state-wide bandh today to intensify the agitation.

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

Hardik Patel on Tuesday gave Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel 48 hours to accept the group's demand for Other Backward Class (OBC) status.

Patel’s ultimatum to the CM came on a day when the 'Maha Kranti' rally by the Patidar (Patel) community here was marred by incidents of vandalism and stone pelting.

The Patidars' rally to the city collector's office for handing out a memorandum of their demands turned violent, with vandalism and stone pelting reported from areas such as Vastrapur, Vadaj, Nikol and Ashram Road.

Motorcycle-bound and stick-wielding Patidar youths were seen vandalising public and private property and forcing shops and offices to shut. At the GMDC ground, from where the rally began, some media persons were manhandled. In certain areas, police resorted to 'lathi-charge'.

Hardik Patel announced he was sitting on a fast for the next 48 hours, till Anandiben Patel came to the GMDC ground to accept the Patidars' memorandum. He added the agitation would intensify till the state government relented and agreed to OBC status for the Patidars.

Speaking on the rally and the ensuing violence, Nitin Patel, Gujarat health minister and government spokesperson, said, "There were a few isolated incidents of violence and attack on media…That is unfortunate and condemnable. But as far as the rally was concerned, it was completed peacefully."

As the news of detention of Hardik spread, violence broke out first in Ahmedabad and later spread to other cities like Surat, Mehsana, Rajkot and some interior areas of the state. The Patel community of Gujarat has been agitating for around a month to fulfil their demands of reservation under the Other Backward Class (OBC) status.

To take stock of the situation, Anandiban Patel called for an urgent meeting with senior state ministers such as Saurabh Patel, Nitin Patel and Bhupendra Chudasma. A formal announcement on the matter is expected from the state government soon.