Agitation for OBC quota to intensify, police indulging in violence: Hardik Patel

Ahmedabad: The agitation for OBC quota to Patels will intensify in the coming days, Hardik Patel who is leading the stir on Wednesday said and blamed the police for the violence.

Rejecting suggestions that the protesters started the violence last night, he alleged that the police were trying to "disrupt" the "movement" at the behest of the political establishment.

"They (Police) are indulging in violence. Police is beating mothers, sisters and small children. They are doing it the same way it is done in UP and Bihar.

"I haven't said anything provocative. We will continue our movement on path of non-violence. We are urging to restore peace. If needed strikes and fast will happen everywhere," he said.

Patel, who shot into limelight with a massive rally here yesterday, said he has no political affiliation.

"We have urged people to restore peace. We urge the same to the government and police. If even a single person is beaten, then the government and the police will be responsible for the the consequences," he told a news channel.

"Let them prove that I have any political affiliation. I have no political affiliation.... This fight is for our rights," he said.

Agitating members of Patel community indulged in arson and stone pelting and vandalised public property last night after brief detention of Hardik Patel.

Fresh violence broke out during a day long bandh today 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.