Hardik Patel offers to give an undertaking for bail

AHMEDABAD: Jailed Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel's lawyer today told the Gujarat High Court that his client is willing to give an undertaking in writing to refrain from activities that may affect law and order if granted bail.

Justice A J Desai kept the matter for further hearing tomorrow after public prosecutor Mitesh Amin told the high court that he will have to seek instructions from the state authority before deciding on the proposed undertaking.

Hardik's lawyer Zubin Bharda gave a copy of the proposed undertaking to Justice Desai and the public prosecutor.

Bharda told the HC that while his client is ready to accept all other conditions put by the court, he will not agree to stay away from the quota agitation.

"Our main concern is that our protest, which is being carried out, should continue. We will continue the agitation in whatever manner it is permissible democratically," he said on behalf of Hardik.

The proposed undertaking maintains that the applicant will "continue to agitate for grievances of the Patidar community without indulging directly or indirectly into any activity which may amount to an offence inviting criminal prosecution".

The undertaking further says that the applicant will continue the agitation "in a peaceful and democratic manner," "shall not indulge in any acts disturbing law and order across the state," and "shall abide by all the conditions imposed by the honourable court."

Hardik, who is facing two separate sedition cases, had moved the high court for bail after the lower courts in Surat and Ahmedabad rejected his pleas.

The quota agitation spearhead and his three aides are charged under IPC sections 124(A) (sedition), 121 (A) (conspiracy to wage war against government) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy).

They are accused of inciting violence to put pressure on the government for accepting the demand of reservation for the Patel community.

Three of Hardik's aides, Chirag Patel, Dinesh Patel and Ketan Patel, facing sedition charges, were earlier granted bail by the high court after they gave written undertaking, stating they will not indulge in any activity that will affect the law and order situation.

The state government recently issued an ordinance providing 10 per cent reservation for the economically backward among upper castes, which includes the Patidars.

Hardik is at present behind the bars in Lajpore jail of Surat district where another sedition case has been filed against him.