Hardik Patel was booked by Gujarat Police under sedition charges for his alleged comments on instigating a community youth to kill policemen instead of committing suicide. (PTI file photo)
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and a Gujjar body today came out in support of Patidar leader Hardik Patel, demanding dropping of sedition charges against him and his immediate release from the jail.
BKU leader Rishipal Ambawat, while addressing a press conference said, on May 10, a rally will be organised in Lucknow demanding dropping of sedition charges and release of Mr Patel.
An invitation has been sent to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to join the rally.
Addressing the news conference under the aegis of Patel Navnirman Sena (PNS), Mr Ambawat said,"We will be holding a rally under the banner of Bharatiya Kisan Union to demand the release of Hardik Patel, who has been languishing in jail for the last 6 months.
"We have also invited Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal Chief Minister) and (Indian Lok Dal leader) Abhay Chautala to be a part of it," he said.
Himmat Singh Gujjar, spokesperson for Rajasthan Gujjar Arakshan Andolan Samiti (RGAAS), alleged that BJP governments in Gujarat and at the Centre are "harassing" people of the community.
"It's been over six months that our leader Hardik Patel is in jail over sedition charges. Why don't you prove the charges? I have also been slapped with a sedition charge, but then prove it. We also want the sedition charge against our leaders to be dropped," Mr Gujjar said.
He said preparations are on for a Gujjar mahapanchyat in Rajasthan in support of Mr Patel, but did not give any detail of the proposed event.
PNS general secretary Akhilesh Katiyar attacked the BJP governments at the Centre and in Gujarat saying that the Patel community is not even allowed to protest.
"Those who protest are charged with the sedition. You deny us permission to organise a rally. The Gujarat government says that there was no permission. But why a permission is required if the purpose of our protest is to court arrest," Mr Katiyar said.
Mr Patel was booked by Gujarat Police under sedition charges for his alleged comments on instigating a community youth to kill policemen instead of committing suicide. He was later arrested in the case.
To demand his release, the Patidar community had organised protests in Gujarat on Sunday, which turned violent.