As many as 35 people, including pro-quota Patidar leader Hardik Patel, were booked by Gujarat police for organising a roadshow and public meeting without permission from concerned authority in Tankara town of newly carved Morbi district.
The 24-year-old Hardik, who is also convener of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), along with his supporters staged a roadshow and a public meeting and reiterated demands to give reservation to Patidar (Patel) community members in Government jobs and educational institutions under Other Backward Class (OBC) category. Since last couple of years, PAAS is agitating against the State Government on the issue of reservation.
Confirming the development, a police official said that an FIR was registered against Hardik and 34 others for organising a roadshow and a public meeting without prior permission. The official however said that PAAS office-bearers sought permission but the district administration denied nod for both the events. Despite the fact, they moved ahead and organised the events, he added.
Reacting on the action taken by the State police, PAAS in a statement claimed that the organisation had applied for permission around a fortnight ago for the roadshow as well as public meeting on April 9, but keeping bias the Morbi district administration rejected the application.
Sources in PAAS said that ongoing pro-quota agitation would be intensified in the coming days as leaders of the organisation were in the process to strategise events for the coming six months keeping the Assembly polls in mind. On supporting a particular political outfit, PAAS leaders said that they would support only those who would agree to give reservation to the Patidar community.