Quota stir will continue, says Hardik Patel

Ahmedabad: Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel on Monday said his four-month-old agitation for reservation for the Patels in government jobs and education will continue.

"Even foibaa (father's sister) cannot prevent it," he told reporters outside a Surat court.

His statement came a day after senior cabinet minister Nitin Patel promised to go slow on legal action against PAAS leaders and associates while announcing on Sunday financial aid for those injured in police action during Hardik Patel's rally.

Hardik Patel has also been accused of using foul language against Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, violence against those from other backward communities as well as media persons, apart from asking one of his supporters to kill a cop or two instead of thinking of suicide.

Patel, 23, was handed over a copy of the 379-page charge sheet filed against him by the Surat Police on Friday in a sedition case.

After he was presented before Judicial Magistrate JB Rathod, his lawyer Yashwant Vala was given a copy of the charge sheet in the first sedition case on Friday.

The district court has ordered to commit the case to a Surat sessions court where further hearing will take place on January 20.

Nitin Patel said the government had directed chief principal secretary in the chief minister's office, K Kailashnathan, to study the 287 cases filed against PAAS leaders and find a way to withdraw these wherever feasible, except those related to sedition charges.

The state earlier announced withdrawal of 74 cases against 382 Patels.

Meanwhile, Reshma Patel and Pankaj Patel, who were on an indefinite fast for the past three weeks to seek release of Hardik Patel and other PAAS leaders, broke their fast on Sunday night after request from the state government and senior community leaders.

The Patel leaders, however, decided to continue token relay fasts at various district headquarters till Hardik Patel and other leaders were released.