Maehsana/Ahmedabad

Police have booked 29 including OBC Eta Manch convener Alpesh Thakor for holding a public meeting without permission.

OBC Ekta Manch, an outfit popped up recently “to guard the interest of the other backward classes (OBC) category” in Gujarat in the wake of the ongoing pro-reservation agitation of the Patel or Patidar community has attracted cases against 39 of its office bearers and members in Kheralu police station of Mahesana district for allegedly holding a meeting without proper permission.

OBC Ekta Manch convener Alpesh Thakor, who was himself among those booked under section 188 for holding the said meeting at Hirawali village, today said that it was not fair.

Gujarat Chief Minister has recently in a public meeting stated, ‘enough is enough’ for those dividing social fabric on casteist line and propelling agitations. The government is in no mood to allow any public assembly on reservation issue, be it from Patidar community or from OBC or any other community.– DeshGujarat

PTI report:

Ahmedabad

Police today filed an FIR against OBC leader Alpesh Thakor, leading a stir against Patels’ demand for quota, and 38 of his supporters for holding a public gathering in Mehsana district of Gujarat without taking prior permission from authorities.

Thakor is the state convener of OBC Ekta Manch and leading a counter-agitation against Patel leaders, who are demanding reservation for their community under OBC quota.

Yesterday, Thakor had organised a gathering of OBC communities at Moti Hirvani village in Mehsana district, about 70km from here, as part of his anti-Patel quota stir. However, police claimed his organisation was not given permission for the event.

According to officials of Kheralu Police in Mehsana, where the FIR was filed, more than 4,000 people were present at the rally.

“Since the organisers had not taken permission for the event from police, we have registered an FIR under Section 188 of IPC against Thakor and 38 others (of Ekta Manch),” said Kheralu Police Sub-Inspector S H Bava.

No arrests have been made yet, he added.

OBC Ekta Manch is bitterly opposed to the demand of Patel community, whose agitation is spearheaded by 22-year-old Hardik Patel, for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.

The Manch has been organising rallies in Gujarat to oppose Patels’ demand for inclusion in the list of OBCs.