'Government is afraid of me,' says Hardik Patel ahead of 'August Kranti' indefinite hunger strike

Hardik Patel on the eve of the third anniversary of the quota agitation in Gujarat said that he would go ahead with his indefinite hunger-strike from Saturday even if the court cancels his bail or the police authorities denied him the permission to do so. SK Langa, the collector of Gandhinagar area denied permission to hold the hunger-strike at Satyagarh Chhavni area on Friday. Patidar leader Hardik Patel called for an indefinite hunger-strike or 'August Kranti' to press for the reservation benefits in government jobs and college admissions for Patidar community and loan waivers for farmers.

On August 25, 2015, violent clashes broke out during the protests led by Hardik Patel, leading to large-scale destruction of public property and death of 14 people.

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Meanwhile, the city sessions court is scheduled to announce its verdict on Monday regarding a government plea seeking cancellation of Patel’s anticipatory bail.

Speaking to reports on Friday, Patel said that he would go on with the hunger-strike inside the jail even if the court cancels his bail or the authorities deny him the permission for the protests.

“If the court cancels my bail than I am ready to go to jail. I will sit on hunger strike in jail. I am not afraid of the BJP government or of going behind bars. I am not going to drop my plans out of any intimidation” Patel told reporters in Ahmedabad.

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Patel criticised the state government by saying that the government is afraid of him and they are making desperate attempts to stop him.

“I am not being allotted a venue (for the fast) because the government is afraid of me. I will sit on hunger strike at my house if need be. However, attempts are being made to stop me from sitting on fast at my house,” he said.

The Patidar leader even claimed that many national leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal might come and support him at the venue.