At least three buses of the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) were allegedly set ablaze in the past 24 hours by the supporters of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS).
All the three incidents followed a similar one in the Patidar-dominated Sarthana area of Surat last week. The GSRTC has had to divert buses in the area to another route as a safety measure.
A violent mob of youngsters attacked a GSRTC bus with stones near Turkha town on the Sanali-Botad route in the Saurashtra region on Monday. The bus was later torched by the miscreants. Nobody was injured in the incidents while the attackers escaped later. Sources said that after setting the bus ablaze some of the youngsters shouted slogans demanding reservation to Patidars in educational institution and government jobs under OBC category.
Meanwhile, BJP MP from Porbander Vithal Radadia came out openly on Monday in support of the agitation saying that if Jats in Haryana can get reservations, then Patel should also get their due.
Radadia is the first BJP leader from the state who has come out openly in support of reservations for Patels, who have been on stir since July last. The state has seen violence on the issue, with 11 people losing lives during the quota stir.