We will show our might in 2017, says 'Gabbar' Hardik Patel after release from Surat jail

Hardik Patel today vowed to continue his agitation to get reservation for his community under the OBC quota minutes after walking out of the Lajpore Jail in Surat.

Pic Courtesy: ANI

Surat: Gujarat's Patel agitation leader Hardik Patel on Friday warned that he will not sit quietly until the rights of his community members is given back to them.

After serving more than nine months in prison, Patidar quota leader Hardik Patel came out of the Lajpore Jail in Surat today.

Patel, who was given a hero`s welcome by hundreds of his supporters, some holding posters that read "Gabbar is Back", also addressed a press conference later during which he warned ''we will show our might in 2017.''

Patel also vowed to continue his agitation to get reservation for his community under the OBC quota.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's '56-inch-chest' remark made during 2014 election campaign, Hardik said, "I want to say that I don't want height, weight or a 56-inch chest. All I want is rights for my community."

"Our agitation will continue in coming days. Our demand for OBC status for Patels is still there. In coming days, there will be a change in the style of our working, but, our attitude (tevar) will remain the same," Patel said.

He was released today after the Gujarat High Court granted him bail in two sedition and one arson-related cases that were slapped when he lead a mass agitation demanding job quotas for the Patel community.

His bail was approved on the condition that he stays out of Gujarat for six months and for three months after that in another case.

The high court has allowed Hardik Patel to stay in the state for two days to visit his house to collect his belongings. However, the court declined his request to visit the temple of family deity in Unjha town in Mehsana.

Dinesh Bamaniya, a leader of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, said Hardik Patel had decided to spend the next six months at Udaipur in Rajasthan since it was closer to Gujarat.

Elaborate arrangements have been made by his supporters to make the most of the two days he has been allowed to stay in Gujarat after release.

The 23-year-old Hardik Patel is expected to cover 2,150 km in the next 48 hours, addressing 12 public meetings, seven roadshows and two major rallies, PAAS spokesperson Brijesh Patel said.

(With ANI inputs)