As many as 35 pro-quota activists of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and Sardar Patel Group (SPG) were detained by the Gujarat police in Ahmedabad on Monday near famous Sabarmati Ashram.
The agitators, who had assembled to hold a dharna outside Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram, were booked under Section 188 of IPC for defying prohibitory orders that bar holding of demonstration and gathering around the ‘Silent Zone’ of the Ashram. Among those detained include PAAS convener Atul Patel and SPG chief lalji Patel.
Talking to The Pioneer a senior police official said that Sabarmati Ashram was under the Silent Zone ambit and there was also possibility of traffic movement getting affected by their protest gathering. Moreover, they did not have requisite permission to hold protest in the area and were therefore prevented from holding any protest, he added.
Gujarat has been witnessed to series of protests from Patels since early July. The agitators are demanding reservations for the socially, politically and economically forward Patel community in the government jobs and educational institutions under OBC category. The agitation had turned violent with 10 people losing their lives during August this year.
Of late the stir appeared to have lost steam with most of its leadership behind bars under one or other charges including 22-year-old PAAS convener Hardik Patel. Patel is facing slew of charges, including Sedition, and has been behind bars. This has weakened the Patel quota stir. Since August, over 5,000 supporters of the pro-quota agitation have been arrested on charges of rioting and violence against police and public property.
On Monday, the agitators had assembled near Gandhi Ashram in a bid to revive the agitation. A group of agitators had announced their intent to go on a relay fast and conduct dharna from Monday till Republic Day seeking withdrawal of sedition charges against PAAS convener Hardik Patel and other associates besides their release from jail.