Patidar outfit calls for Ahmedabad bandh tomorrow for its ‘Kranti rally’

Ahmedabad

The Patidar Anamat Aandolan Samiti (PAAS), which is adamant to hold its much hyped pro-reservation Kranti rally of the politically dominant Patel community here even without any official permission, today called for a bandh in Ahmedabad city for their event to held tomorrow to avoid any inconvenience to the people.

PAAS has claimed to gather over 25 lakh people in the rally as a show of strength to press their demand of inclusion of Patidar or Patel community in the other backward classes (OBC) category for reservation benefits.

Addressing a press conference here today, convener of PAAS, Hardik Patel also appealed his community to close their shops and other establishments all over the state to participate in the rally and to support the cause.

‘We appeal to the people of the city to co-operate us. Our agitation is not against the government or any section of the society or any particular person. We are fighting for our rights only. I appeal to all the educational institutions and commercial establishments of the city to remain close tomorrow to avoid any inconvenience,’ Mr. Patel said.

‘We also request the toll tax points on the highways to co-operate us by not charging those who are coming here to participate in the rally. People coming to participate in the rally should not be stopped anywhere. I request the city people to help them reaching the venue,’ the PAAS convener, who did not participate in talks with the government on the issue despite written invitation said.

He also claimed that the rally would be held irrespective of any official permission for it.

Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements are being made in and around the main venue of GMDC ground where the PAAS has been granted permission to hold a public meeting and various parking lots and other areas of the city. Over 18000 security personnel would be deployed in the city and four main routes have been declared no vehicle zone with diversion of over 500 city buses for the event.

The organisation has so far taken out over a hundred rallies in support of their demand. At least two of them, in Surat and Vadodara city, has seen a crowd of over one lakh people.

– DeshGujarat