Hardik Patel, leader of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) that has been agitating for reservation benefits for the Patel community, said on Sunday that more rallies and meetings would be held in various towns of Gujarat in the coming days.
The 22-year-old Mr. Patel was released on bail late on Saturday night. He was first detained and subsequently arrested by the Surat police on Saturday morning when he was scheduled to launch his “Ekta Yatra.”
“Despite the best efforts by the police and the Gujarat government, a large number of people have come out in our support. This shows that the Patidar community backs our demand for reservation in jobs and education,” Mr Patel said. He dismissed suggestions that the agitation this time round did not draw the kind of crowds last month’s rally did. An estimated half-a-million people attended the rally in Ahmedabad on August 25.
Internet ban liftedMeanwhile, the government has lifted the ban on mobile-based Internet services in Ahmedabad and Vadodara. The ban was imposed after Mr. Patel’s detention in Surat triggered a protest by the Patidar community and thousands came out on the streets.
“Today was peaceful and no untoward incident was reported,” said a top government official.
