Sedition charges slapped against Patidar protest leader Hardik Patel
Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel was on Monday booked under the charges of sedition over his alleged remarks on ‘killing cops’.
Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) Hardik Patel was on Monday booked by Gujarat police under sedition charges for his alleged comments instigating a man from the Patel community to kill policemen instead of committing suicide.
“We have filed a case of sedition against Hardik Patel for his October 3 comments here telling his friends to kill policemen,” DCP Marland Chauhan, who has become a complainant in the case, said.
The sedition case has been filed under section 124(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Amroli police station in Surat.
The complaint against Hardik has come after almost 15 days of his controversial remarks. Hardik, the 22-year-old fiery leader, had allegedly advised a youth from the community to kill policemen rather than commit suicide.
“If you have so much courage... then go and kill a couple of policemen. Patels never commit suicide,” Hardik had allegedly told Vipul Desai, who had announced that he would commit suicide in support of the agitation.
Hardik visited Desai’s house accompanied by a team of a news channel which had aired the conversation later.
He later claimed that he meant no harm. Gujarat police, however, said they found a video clip which shows him instigating the youth to pick up arms, reports said.
The Patel leader was detained on Sunday in Rajkot ahead of India-South Africa third ODI, as he had threatened to protest during the match for quota for his community. He is still under detention of Rajkot Police.
The quota spearhead has been hogging the limelight since the August 25 “mega-rally” of Patels in Ahmedabad and the subsequent violence across Gujarat.
(With PTI and ANI inputs)
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