Hardik Patel jailed for 2 years for violence during 2015 Patidar agitation

MEHSANA: Patidar leader Hardik Patel has been sent to jail for two years in connection with a case of vandalism at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Rushikesh Patel’s office in Visnagar during 2015 Patidar protests. Hardik, the convener of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), was found guilty by the Visnagar Court in Gujarat on Wednesday. A fine of Rs 50,000 has also been imposed on the Patidar agitation leader.
Along with Hardik, Sardar Parel Group (SPG) convener Lalji Patel and another Patidar leader Ambalal Patel have also been found guilty and have been sentenced to two years in jail each with a fine of Rs 50,000. The trio has been convicted under 147.148.149 427 and 435.
Hardik and others are accused of ransacking the office of Visnagar MLA Rishikesh Patel during the protest rally of Patidar community in July 2015.
Hardik’s Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti has been protesting seeking reservation for the Patel community under Other Backward Classes in Gujarat for reservation in government jobs and education. The protests in 2015 spearheaded by Hardik had taken the nation by storm. At several places, these protests had even taken a violent turn. Two sedition cases were also lodged in Surat and Ahmedabad accusing Hardik of inciting violence.