Gujarat protest: VHP leader Pravin Togadia appeals for calm

ALLAHABAD: Amid violent protests in Gujarat over OBC quota for Patel community, VHP leader Pravin Togadia today appealed to the agitators to stay "calm" and urged the police to "have patience".

"I am distressed to hear about the disturbances that have rocked Gujarat. I urge all to stay calm and help normalcy return. I also request the police to have patience while dealing with protesters," Togadia said in a statement here.

The VHP Working President, who hails from Gujarat and himself belongs to the Patel community, however, declined to comment on the demand for reservation for the influential caste group and said "this is not the time when one should take a stand on a volatile issue."

"My first priority is to see restoration of normalcy in Gujarat. Unfortunately I am outside the state and am unable to disseminate my call for peace since all social media tools like Whatsapp etc. have been blocked there," he said.

Army was called in today to help control widespread violence sparked by quota agitation by Patel community in Gujarat which has claimed five lives even as curfew was clamped in major cities and towns in the state.