Gujarat Police had to use teargas shells on Thursday on a rally organised by the Patel community which was demanding reservation at Visnagar town in Mahesana district.According to police sources, the rally turned violent and they had no option but use teargas shells to control the mob. On the other hand, leaders of the Patel community said that they had staged a peaceful rally but people from some other groups mingled into the rally and created a ruckus. During the violence, a media person was also injured.
The rally was organised under the ‘Patidar Anamat Samiti’ in which nearly 25,000 people from the affluent Patel community gathered at a ground in Visnagar. They demanded that Patels should be included in OBC category.As far as social fabrication of Gujarat is concerned, Patels are considered as the upper caste and a progressive community of the State. They are also having a huge say in the State’s business, political and social circles. large number of Patels have not only settled in countries like USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and African continent but they have created wealth and earned respect in these nations.
“Some elements of Sardar Patel group, who came from Kheda district to take part in the rally, resorted to violence, otherwise the rally was going on peacefully. No one from Patel community was involved in damaging property, it was done by outsiders,” said Mahesh Patel, one of the organisers of the rally.
Meanwhile, when the rally reached near the office of local BJP MlA Rishikesh Patel, some community members tried to approach him to hand over a memorandum. However, when they didn’t find the MlA in his office, some of the members got angry and started vandalising his office and nearby shops.
“Some also tried to set a car on fire and pelted stone on the shops. Eventually in order to control the situation police lobbed 10 teargas shells to disperse violent mob,” said Police.
Police claimed that within few minute they could control the situation. “No one is injured seriously. Extra police force has been deployed in the town to maintain peace, said Mahesana DSP JR Mothalia.