Patel group’s rally for reservations cancelled

Mehsana (Gujarat)

The administration has denied permission to the July 28 rally of the Patel community over the demand of reservations at Vijapur town of Mehsana district, following which it has been cancelled.

“I denied permission to hold the rally in order to maintain law and order here as the previous rally at Visnagar in the district had witnessed violence,” Mamlatdar (revenue officer), Vijapur, Dalpat Tank told PTI today.

“I denied the permission on the same day, on July 23, when the (earlier) rally turned violent. Leaders of the community today gave an undertaking that they will not hold a rally,” added Tank.

“We will not hold rally on July 28. We declare cancellation of all the rallies and other public meetings in Vijapur,” read a letter by community leaders Manoj Patel and eight others.

The Patel community has been demanding reservations under the OBC category. During the earlier rally on July 23 at Visnagar, violence had erupted near the office of local BJP MLA Rushikesh Patel, and police had fired at least 10 teargas shells to control the mob.

PTI