Patidar Samiti defends Hardik's fast, says breaking no laws

Quota agitation leader Hardik Patel's announcement of an indefinite fast was not a crime, the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) argued before the Gujarat High Court Wednesday.

The organization moved the high court seeking that police be directed to allow people to meet Patel at his fast venue, his bungalow on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.

In its rejoinder to a government reply, PAAS also told Justice A Y Kogje that denial of permission to Patel to stage his hunger strike in public places "shows that the Gujarat Police is against Patidar community".

"Every citizen has a right to raise the voice of dissent, therefore, the declaration of intention to observe the fast unto death is not a crime made punishable under any provision of the statute," it said.

"Police are taking repressive and oppressive actions by filing false and frivolous FIRs" against PAAS members, it alleged.

"Clandestine design of the police" was behind the violence during the August 2015 agitation of Patel-led PAAS for reservation for the Patidar community, it further alleged.

The state government in its reply had cited the violence in 2015 agitation as a reason for not granting permission to Patel to hold fast from August 25.

Patel then launched his hunger strike to press the demands of quota for Patidars and loan waiver for farmers from his house, and it is still continuing.

When the high court Wednesday adjourned the hearing to next Monday, PAAS lawyer Babubhai Mangukiya said anything could happen to Patel in the meantime.

To this, Advocate General Kamal Trivedi, representing the government, said it was up to "destiny".

Mangukiya took a strong exception to this remark saying "It is the most irresponsible and horrible statement made by the state."