Mahesana: Thousands of people from various communities participated in the Jan Kranti Maha Rally in Mahesana on Saturday morning, pressing for changes in laws related to love marriages.

The rally, which began from Avsar Party Plot on Modhera Road and concluded at the district collector’s office, was largely organized by members of the Patidar community. Participants demanded that parental signatures be made mandatory for the registration of love marriages.

The organizers also put forward several conditions, including that the registration of love marriages should take place in the local court where the girl resides, with witnesses above the age of 40. They further demanded that men marrying after the age of 30 must deposit ₹10 lakh in fixed deposit in the name of the bride’s parents. Another demand stated that those entering into love marriages should be debarred from claiming parental property rights.

In addition, the rally raised demands for free education for all citizens of Gujarat and an increase in the minimum marriage age for women from 18 to 21 or 22 years.

The rally has drawn support from various political parties, including the ruling party.