Gujarat: Court awards 2 year jail to Patidar leader Hardik Patel over 2015 riot case

Two year jail term has also been given to Lalji bhai Patel for vandalizing Bharatiya Janta Party legislator Rushikesh Patel’s office in Visnagar during 20015 Patidar protests.

Hardik Patel/ ABP News image-File

Mehsana: Visnagar court on Wednesday held Patidar leader Hardik Patel guilty in case related to vandalizing Bharatiya Janta Party legislator Rushikesh Patel’s office in Visnagar during 20015 Patidar protests, and awarded him with jail for 2 years. The court also held head of Sardarpatel group, Laljibhai Patel guilty in the case and also punished him with 2 year jail term. Hardik has been sentenced under section 147, 148, 149, 427 and 435. He has also been asked to pay Rs 40,000 to the BJP MLA, whose office was vandalized and property was damaged. Also, Rs 1lakh is to be given to the car owner whose vehicle was damaged. Moments after the verdict, the Patidar leader took to Twitter saying he will emerge as a bigger challenger.

मेरी फितरत में है जालिमों से मुकाबला करना और हक़ के लिए लड़ना।जितना दबाओगे उतना ही चुनौती बन के उभरउंगा।

— Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) July 25, 2018

किसी भी मुश्किल को उसके बनाये गए लेवल पर हल नहीं किया जा सकता, उस मुसीबत को उस लेवल से ऊपर उठने पर ही हल किया जा सकता है। इंक़लाब ज़िंदाबाद

— Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) July 25, 2018

Gujarat’s Patidar community in 2015 held protests across the state seeking OBC status for them.

Mehsana: Visnagar Court pronounces Hardik Patel guilty in a case related to vandalising BJP legislator Rushikesh Patel’s office in Visnagar during 2015 Patidar protests. #Gujarat (file pic) pic.twitter.com/IB5PN67zkI

— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2018

The verdict comes days after Hardik’s recent announcement of an indefinite hunger strike, which was set to begin next month; the move which seemed to be yet another attempt to revive the quota agitation movement in Gujarat after a post-election lull. Patel had said that he will launch an indefinite fast beginning 25 August, the third anniversary of his address to a huge gathering in Ahmedabad, an event which was affected by violence.