Seven Patidars detained in Navsari

Surat: Seven people trying to take out a rally from Gandhi Smruti Railway Station of Navsari to Dandi were detained by police in Navsari district on Saturday. The 16-km long rally was being organized to pay homage to those who were killed during the reservation quota movement by Patidars in the state.
Police detained Kanu Sukhadiya, Himmat Balar, Rutul Patel, Hardik Harja, Kushal Sheladiya, Varun Lakhani and Nilesh Asodariya.They are residents of Navsari and Surat and activists of Navsari Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti and Akhil Bhartiya Patidar Paramarsh Samiti. The organizers had sought permission to take out the rally from Navsari district collector, but their application was rejected.
"Our intention was to pay homage to Patidars who were killed during the reservation quota agitation last year. We also wanted to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Dandi. However, the authorities denied us permission and detained us," Sukhadiya said. "Seven people were detained but later released during the day," said V J Jadeja, deputy superintendent of police, Navsari.
Meanwhile, PAAS convener Hardik Patel's ultimatum to state government to release all Patidars lodged in different jails ended on January 30. Hardik had threatened to restart the movement if Patidars are not released in a letter written from the jail in Surat where he is lodged.