People in Ahmedabad and Gujarat wish for peaceful August 25

Ahmedabad

The city of Ahmedabad is not exactly fear gripped, but people out here are somewhat on alert mode and worried. They are concerned about peace and stability. Such feeling is not limited to Ahmedabad but also other parts of Gujarat.

There’s silent fear of clashes between agitating Patidar community members and police. There’s also fear of clashes between Patidar community and other communities that come under 27% Other Backward Class quota. There’s fear of mob going on rampage due to some provocation or some rumor. There’s fear of mob causing damage to government property. There’s fear of engineered violence if not natural one.

Such apprehension is because some audio clips in circulation in recent past as reported in press. Such apprehension is also because of some aggressive comments on social media in connection to the quota issue. Such apprehension is also because of related politics, caste conflict, size of crowd and its mobilization across the state in direction to Ahmedabad.

Patidar organizations claim tomorrow’s gathering in Ahmedabad will see presence of over 2.5 million Patidars on GMDC ground in west Ahmedabad. However permission granted by police to Patidar gathering is for 3 lakh people. Police has not given permission to march in rally to Patidars.They are given permission just for gathering, use of mike, parking at particular places and passage from parking place to meeting place.

Population of Gujarat is 6.5 crore around, and Patidar community across the state claims their population is 2 crore around. There’s no official figure to support this claim because the last caste census happened only in 1931. But yes Patels have considerable presence across the state. There are 45 MLAs in 182-strong Gujarat assembly from Patidar community.

In last one month or so, Patidars have organized rallies in various towns and cities across the state and looking at the presence in those rallies, the claim of over 5 lakh strong presence in tomorrow’s Patidar rally in Ahmedabad is not taken lightly. The GMDC ground has capacity to contain maximum 3.5 lakh people. Next to this ground is a road connecting IIM cross roads to Helmet circle. It is Bus Rapid Transit System(BRTS) route. BRTS buses, AMTS buses and ST buses on this road are diverted to other routes.

The organizers of this rally today in a press conference declared strike in Ahmedabad tomorrow when gathering is going to take place. They also declared strike in all Patidar run businesses across Gujarat. Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti leader Hardik Patel described each participant in this rally as Krantikari.

The organizers have asked toll booth operator that they should not stop any vehicle coming for Patidar rally and demand toll tax. Patidar volunteers will remain present at all major toll booths on highways to Ahmedabad and ensure that toll tax is not collected. Police has decided to provide walky talky sets to some Patidar volunteers for coordination.

People in Ahmedabad have started stocking milk and other needed items. Majority of schools and colleges have declared leave tomorrow through verbal order citing safety of people.

Media persons and others are circulating messages over whatsupp to first verify and then only broadcast news about any kind of violence or clash and observe restrain tomorrow.

– DeshGujarat