Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print

Ahmedabad:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed for peace in Gujarat, which is tense after last night’s violence following the brief detention of 21-year-old Hardik Patel who led a massive rally in the city yesterday, demanding reservation for the Patel community.

1 "Violence does not benefit anybody," the Prime Minister said in an appeal on television.

2 There have been fresh clashes in parts of Ahmedabad, which is under curfew after clashes and cases of arson and stone-throwing late last night, allegedly by enraged supporters of Hardik Patel.

3 Speaking to NDTV, Hardik Patel said his movement is non-violent and would intensify. "If anything goes wrong, it will be the government’s fault," he said.

4 Hardik Patel had called for a bandh in Gujarat in a late night message on WhatsApp, in which he said, "I make an appeal to maintain peace and keep calm."

5 Internet services on mobile phones have been suspended in some parts of Gujarat. Schools and colleges are closed today in Ahmedabad. There is curfew in some parts of Surat and in Mehsana in north Gujarat too. An incident of stone throwing was reported in Surat this morning.

6 State-run buses have been burnt and government offices have been ransacked in these cities. Incidents of arson were also reported from Rajkot, about 200 kilometres from Ahmedabad.

7 The Centre has rushed about 5,000 paramilitary personnel to Gujarat and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel this morning, assuring her of all help to tackle the situation, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

8 Internet services on mobile phones have been suspended in some parts of the state to check the spread of rumours through Whatsapp and SMS. Internet can be accessed on computers in homes and offices.

9 At about 9 pm on Tuesday, the police lathi-charged a large crowd still present at the GMDC ground in Ahmedabad, where Hardik Patel had led a mega-rally. Mr Patel was detained and released within an hour.

10 The police said Hardik Patel did not have permission to stay on at the public grounds after the rally. Mr Patel is the face of a massive agitation to demand reservation in government jobs and colleges for the Patel community or Patidars.