Will resume quota stir after coming out of jail: Hardik

Patel quota stir spearhead Hardik Patel, who is in jail in two sedition cases, on Monday said the agitation will be resumed after he is released and not even Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel can stall the protest.

“Whenever I come out of jail, I will engage in our movement to get reservation. Till then, I will spend my time in jail,” Hardik told reporters while being produced before a local court in Surat on Monday.

“The agitation will continue as per our plan and no one can stop it, not even my aunt (Anandiben Patel),” he said.

After he was produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate JB Rathod, his lawyer Yashwant Vala was given the copy of the chargesheet filed against him in the first sedition case last Friday. 

Since the case is triable in the sessions court, the district court has ordered to commit it in Surat sessions court where further hearing would take place on January 20. In the 370-page chargesheet, Hardik has been charged under Sections 124(A) and 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

To substantiate their case, police have also attached conversation of Hardik and others acquired through telephone interception. With the help of these, they want to prove that Hardik tried to incite youths to resort to violence during agitation.