Gujarat | Quota row: Hardik Patel demands reservation for OBCs at Ahmedabad rally
Patel leaders' call for bandh today, and the police's decision to declare some of the main roads as no-go areas and request to the people not to leave house unless in the case of emergency, are likely to bring the commercial capital of Gujarat to a grinding halt.
Hardik Patel, a Patel Community leader addressed a Patidar rally in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, and demanded reservations under the Other Backward Caste (OBC) quota for the community.
He spoke about how India stands on three pillars; the Indian Army, the farmer and labourers.
Talking about farmer suicides he said, "Political parties say that a farmer's death is his own responsibility. 6000 farmers died in Gujarat. Who will take the responsibility. If any more farmers die, it won't be good for either Gujarat or India.
He also mentioned the lack of initiative by the government in resolving the reservation issue. Patel asked, "If the Supreme Court can open at 3:30 am in the morning to decide the fate of a terrorist, then why not for the youth and the future of this nation."
Security has been beefed up for the public meeting and the rally for which police gave permission.
Police commissioner Shivanand Jha said foolproof security arrangements have been made, and more than 17,000 police personnel -- including 20 superintendents of police, 62 deputy SPs, 244 inspectors, 504 sub-inspectors, 13,000 constables and head-constables and 817 policewomen -- would be deployed.
As many as 1,838 persons were put into preventive detention by the city police from August 11 to 22.
The commissioner warned people against spreading rumours through mobile phone messages, whatsapp or internet. Those spreading rumour would face action, he said.