Patels’ Gujarat bandh call evokes tepid response; govt panel meets mediators

Ahmedabad

The Gujarat bandh call given by Patel quota agitators failed to evoke much response in the state and passed off peacefully barring in Mehsana, where a mob torched a minister’s vacant house.

A state committee of ministers, formed to negotiate with the quota agitators, held a “fruitful and positive” meeting in Gandhinagar over the demands with several leaders of the Patel community, who are working as mediators. Another round of talks will soon be held to arrive at a solution.

Police had made elaborate security arrangements in view of the state-wide bandh call given by the Sardar Patel Group (SPG) demanding reservation and immediate release of their jailed leaders. Schools, colleges, public transport and the normal life were not affected by the bandh call.

“No major incident took place today. We have deployed adequate number of policemen and paramilitary forces across Gujarat today to ensure safety and security of citizens,” DGP in-charge P P Pandey said.

Barring few minor incidents, the situation remained calm throughout the day, he said.

The curfew imposed yesterday in Mehsana town after violent clashes between protesters and police, was lifted this morning and the bandh call largely went off peacefully, although Gujarat Minister of State for Home Rajni Patel’s vacant home in Mehsana town was set on fire by the Patel agitators, police said.

“Unidentified men stormed into the empty house and set ablaze the furniture and other belongings. The mob also hurled stones on fire tenders trying to reach there. This is the same house which was set on fire in August last year during agitation related violence,” said an official of control room.

According to police, Patel has his official house in Gandhinagar, but sometimes visit his Mehsana residence.

The ban on mobile Internet services imposed in some towns for a day yesterday, including Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot and Mehsana, was till midnight.

“We had lifted curfew in Mehsana at 6 am as the situation was under control. No reports of untoward incident came during the bandh call. Mobile Internet services will remain off in the city till this midnight,” Mehsana District Collector Lochan Sehra told PTI.

In Ahmedabad, life remained normal except in some Patel- dominated localities of eastern side of the city, where shops did not open till afternoon. School, colleges, shops and other establishments remained open and public transport services in operation.

In Surat too, the bandh call had no impact as almost all the areas remained open. In Rajkot, except for some Patel dominated areas, other parts of the city were unaffected by the bandh call.

Curfew was clamped in Mehsana yesterday and mobile Internet services were banned as a massive rally of the Patel community demanding reservation and immediate release of their jailed leaders turned violent with two buildings being set ablaze and some police vehicles damaged.

In a bid to pacify the Patel agitators, the state committee held a meeting with various leaders of the community, including the trustee of Umiya Dham Trust Jayram Vansjaliya, at Gandhinagar.

These leaders are trying to mediate between government and quota leaders associated with Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and SPG to arrive at a compromise formula.

After the meeting, state Health Minister and Gujarat Government spokesperson Nitin Patel said the meeting was “fruitful”.

“Reservation is not the only issue, as PAAS leader Hardik Patel and SPG leader Lalji Patel also raised several other demands to arrive at a compromise. We have discussed all these issues today. Another round of talks will be done in coming days to arrive at a solution,” Patel said after the meet.

Vansjaliya later told reporters that the release of jailed quota leader Hardik and three of his aides was the key issue discussed in today’s meeting.

“Community leaders asked the government to satisfy the main demand of release of Hardik and other jailed leaders.

Government was also positive during the meeting. We want that PAAS and SPG leaders should be called for next round of talks,” he said.

Meanwhile, following violence at Modhera Cross roads yesterday, Mehsana police lodged an FIR against Sardar Patel Group (SPG) president Lalji Patel and 36 others under various sections of IPC, including loot and rioting.

“We have lodged an FIR against Patel and 36 other agitators for rioting, loot, arson, damaging public property and defying orders of police. No arrests have been made yet,” said Police Sub Inspector of Mehsana ‘B’ division police S B Jadeja.

In all, 19 such FIRs of rioting and arson were registered across Gujarat today, a police official said.

PTI