If he is granted bail by a Visnagar court in a case of vandalism on Monday, Hardik Patel, leader of Gujarat’s Patidar stir, is likely to move to Uttar Pradesh and seek support from its Kurmi community.
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The court, while granting him bail, set a condition that he will have to stay out of Gujarat for a period of six months.
While granting bail to Patel furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000 and two sureties of Rs 25,000 each, Justice A J Desai asked Hardik to give a fresh undertaking that he would live outside Gujarat for the next six months.
The news of Hardik getting bail was welcomed by members of the Patidar community who broke into jubilation bursting crackers and distributing candies.
Varun Patel, spokesperson of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), welcomed the court’s order.
Subsequently, Ahmedabad police also filed a sedition case naming him and his top aides accusing them of trying to topple the state government using violent agitation.
Gujarat Congress used the Hardik issue to target BJP with state party president Bharat Solanki saying that “the government tried to shake the will power of this youth by applying dirty tricks and even offering him enticement”.
Asked if she would agree to Hardik Patel continuing the quota agitation, she said she would stand by him at all times.
Hardik Patel has got bail in two sedition cases and one on the attack on the office of Visnagar BJP MLA Hrishikesh Patel and other government properties during the reservation agitation.
Patel was accused in vandalism at an MLA’s office in Visnagar, a town in Mehsana district during pro-reservation demonstrations a year ago. The lower court had refused bail to him, after which Hardik had approached the high court.
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Hardik Patel has several times in the past said he would continue his agitation in a peaceful manner and was not agreeable to the 10 per cent quota announced by the Anandiben Patel government to economically backward classes among the non-reserved category of communities.
