Will resume stir after coming out of jail: Hardik Patel

AHMEDABAD: Patel quota stir spearhead Hardik Patel, who is behind bars in two sedition cases, today said he will resume the agitation after he is released from jail and not even Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel can stall the protest.

"Whenever I will come out of jail, I will engage in our movement to get reservation. Till then I will spend my time in jail," Hardik told media persons when he was being produced before a local court in Surat today.

"The agitation will continue as per our plans and no one can stop it, not even my aunt (Anandiben Patel)," said Hardik.

After he was produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate J B Rathod, his lawyer Yashwant Vala was given the copy of the charge sheet filed against him in the first sedition case on Friday last.

Since the case is triable in the sessions court, the district court has ordered to commit it in Surat sessions court where further hearing would take place on January 20.

In the 370-page charge sheet, Hardik has been charged under sections 124(A) - sedition, 115 (abetment of offence) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the IPC.

To substantiate their case, police have also attached conversation of Hardik and others acquired through telephone interception. With the help of these, police want to prove that Hardik tried to incite youths to resort to violence during agitation.

A case of sedition was slapped against him in October last for his alleged controversial instigating a community youth to kill policemen instead of committing suicide.

Also, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch had filed a second separate case of sedition against Hardik and five of his associates.