The Gujarat police has booked Hardik Patel, leader of the the Patel quota agitation movement, for sedition over his “kill cops” remark, which was caught on video.
Earlier this month Patel is reported to have said “If you have so much courage...then go and kill a couple of policemen. Patels never commit suicide.” Patel was speaking to a local youth who had said he would commit suicide to support the movement.
According to NDTV, Patel said his comments were “misinterpreted” and has questioned the authenticity of the video. The police, however, say they have verified the tape.
Patel was detained on Sunday while he was on his way to Khandheri Cricket Stadium in Rajkot ahead of the India-South Africa one-day international (ODI) match.
Minutes before his detention, the 22-year-old leader told reporters that he just wanted to watch the match like a common spectator. Patel had earlier threatened to stage protests at the ODI venue on their reservation demand.
Following his threat, the Rajkot administration had banned mobile Internet services on Saturday night in the district.
Police detained Hardik Patel from Madhapar cross road area today when he was on his way to Khandheri Cricket Stadium in the city, where an ODI between India and South Africa is scheduled to be played.
– Pradip Sejul, Superintendent of Police of Jamnagar (Rural)
Patel and around four of his supporters were detained when he was going to the cricket stadium in the attire of a farmer, he said. Rajkot (Rural) Superintendent of Police Gagandeep Gambhir said Hardik was taken to SRP headquarters in Ghanteswar area on the city’s outskirts.
We have not come here to protest, but we just want to watch the match with our Patidar (Patel) brothers. Like many other spectators who have come here to cheer up Indian team. We have tickets for the match also.
– Hardik Patel, Convenor of Patidar Anamant Andolan Samiti (PAAS)
“I want to urge to the people to keep calm and not to do anything that will breach peace and law and order situation of Gujarat,” he said.
He had earlier said that they will block the way of two teams and not allow them to reach the stadium. He threatened to gherao the venue if he and his supporters were not allowed to go inside to protest.
He had also urged the Patel community members to remain present in large numbers during the Rajkot match to raise their reservation demand.
(With inputs from PTI)