We were peaceful, police beat us like terrorists, says Hardik Patel on Guj violence over quota

Even as three people died in Gujarat on Wednesday due to the violence that erupted on Tuesday night over the demand for OBC status by the Patel community, Hardik Patel, the man who has been leading the protest, maintained firmly that it was the police who had struck first.

“We had earlier said that we don’t want this to be a violent movement. But whatever has happened is because of the way police personnel have beaten up youth,” Hardik told CNN-IBN.

“We had been peaceful in our movement so far. But the police beat us up like we were terrorists,” he said. “We are not terrorists. We are the youth of this nation. We can demand our rights.”

“They even beat up women. There barged into houses at 11.30 pm (on Tuesday night) and beat people up,” Hardik said. “This is not right. The government has made a huge mistake… I am really shocked,” he said, adding that the violence in the state was only the result of the alleged abuse by police.

“All policemen who were on duty at GMDC ground should be suspended. Our demands should be met. Only then will this movement come to an end,” he said. “The police is responsible for everything.”

He also warned that the agitation for reservation will intensify in coming days even as he accused the police of trying to “derail” the stir at the behest of political establishment and indulging in violence, reported PTI.

“Police are acting against us on the directions either from Central or state government,” the 22-year-old convener of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) said in an oblique reference to the BJP which is leading governments at Centre and Gujarat.

However, the young leader reiterated that he has no political affiliations.

Hardik, whose brief detention by police last night at the massive rally of Patels triggered violence in various parts of the state, refuted reports that Patels indulged in violence.

“Our agitation will continue on the path of peace and non-violence and we have so far conducted this movement like that only,” Hardik said. ““Gujarat Government created this bad atmosphere fearing that our agitation will grab headlines. They (state government) want to derail our agitation,” he said.

Upping the aggression, Hardik said, “I want to tell Gujarat police that if any son of Patel is beaten, and if anything happens after that, then state government and police will be responsible for it.”

Incidents of arson and stone pelting erupted last light and public property was vandalised after brief detention of Hardik.

Fresh violence broke out during a day-long bandh on Wednesday called by him even as curfew was clamped in parts of Ahmedabad, Surat and Mehsana districts and thousands of paramilitary and anti-riot personnel were deployed to control the situation.

(With inputs from PTI)