Hardik Patel to be produced in court in Rajkot for insulting the National Flag

Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel will on Thursday be produced in a local court in Rajkot for allegedly insulting the National Flag.

There are also charges of sedition against Hardik, after he purportedly told a member of his community to kill policemen. Patel was arrested on October 19 last year by the Rajkot Police after an FIR was filed against him at the Paddhari police station in connection with the matter.

Hardik was detained by the police on October 18 last year when he was on his way to Khandheri cricket stadium in Rajkot ahead of the India-South Africa One Day International. He had threatened to stage a protest at the stadium during the game seeking quota for his community.

Hardik is the face of the Patel agitation which practically brought Gujarat to a standstill in September. The state of Gujarat has witnessed severe disruptions and incidents of violence in the past few weeks, with curfew imposed in some areas, including the biggest city of Ahmedabad.