Patidars won over, BJP govt drops some more cases against Hardik Patel, others in Gujarat

While the 2015 Patidar quota agitation was straight liable for the BJP’s tally coming down drastically successful the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections, the enactment has enactment this acold down since, winning successful 2022 with a grounds fig of seats. The Patidars, who utilized to beryllium the party’s ballot bank, are backmost connected its side, portion the look of the 2015 quota agitation, Hardik Patel, is present an MLA of the BJP.

Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi confirmed the withdrawal of much cases against Patidar protesters, saying: “A determination was taken to retreat the 9 cases registered during the agitation.”

Sources said the determination was taken by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and of the 9 cases withdrawn, 3 were against Hardik. Of the three, 2 progressive sedition and allied charges.

Welcoming the development, Hardik posted connected X successful Hindi: “The authorities of (Chief Minister) Bhupendra Patel has withdrawn the superior cases, including of sedition, registered during the Patidar agitation against Patidar assemblage youths including me. On behalf of the community, I convey the BJP authorities of Gujarat.” He besides thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah “from the extent of my heart”.

गुजरात में हुए पाटीदार आंदोलन के दौरान मेरे समेत समाज के अनेक युवाओं पर लगे गंभीर राजद्रोह समेत के मुक़दमे आज भूपेंद्र भाई पटेल की सरकार ने वापिस लिए है। मैं समाज की ओर से गुजरात की भाजपा सरकार का विशेष आभार व्यक्त करता हूँ।

पाटीदार आंदोलन से गुजरात में बिन आरक्षित वर्गों के…

— Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) February 7, 2025

A apical authorities root said: “It has been decided to retreat these cases nether provisions of Section 321 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Now, the nationalist prosecutors volition determination the respective courts to retreat these cases.”

Section 321 of the CrPC empowers a nationalist authoritative oregon adjunct nationalist authoritative in-charge of a lawsuit to retreat the lawsuit immoderate clip earlier the transgression proceedings is completed.

Of the 9 cases, 2 were registered successful Surat, six successful Ahmedabad and 1 successful Mehsana. The sedition cases were registered astatine Amroli Police Station successful Surat metropolis and the City Detection of Crime Branch of Ahmedabad city, and Hardik was an accused successful both.

The co-accused included immoderate of Hardik’s past associates including Dinesh Bambhaniya, Chirag Patel, Alpesh Kathiriya, Chirag Desai and Amrish Patel.

In his post, Hardik lauded the measures taken by the Gujarat authorities for the Patidars. “Because of the Patidar agitation, a committee and corp were formed successful Gujarat for non-reserved classes, a Yuva Swamlamban Yojana worthy Rs 1,000 crore was implemented, and the savarnas got the payment of 10% preservation connected economical basis.”

The 2015 Patidar agitation had demanded OBC presumption for the community, to marque it eligible for preservation successful acquisition and authorities jobs. The agitation had turned violent, starring to the decease of 14 Patidars successful constabulary action.

After the agitation receded pursuing the Modi government’s implementation of 10% quota for EWS sections of non-reserved communities, the lone pending request of the Patidar assemblage earlier the authorities authorities was withdrawal of transgression cases registered against its members during the quota agitation.

A apical root successful the authorities said: “Now, lone those cases stay which are not successful tribunal and are pending with the police, without a chargesheet being filed. It is imaginable that the authorities could adjacent those cases aft filing closure reports… Their fig would beryllium beneath 10.”

A Patidar assemblage person said it was a invited determination by the government. “There was a batch of discontent among the assemblage implicit this issue. The authorities had made a promise, but was not fulfilling it completely. The contented was raised each clip determination was a assemblage lawsuit successful the state. This volition calm the discontent.”

Incidentally, the withdrawal of cases follows a enactment involving the apprehension of a pistillate subordinate of the Patidar assemblage connected the complaint of defaming a BJP MLA, aft which she was allegedly paraded successful public. The authorities expected the Opposition to rise the contented successful the Budget Session of the Gujarat Assembly starting from February 19.

Congress Vadgam MLA and its moving president successful Gujarat Jignesh Mevani besides welcomed the development, portion asking erstwhile the authorities authorities would driblet transgression cases registered against Dalits during the Una agitation.

In 2016, aft a radical of Dalits were publically flogged by self-styled cattle vigilantes successful Una of Gir Somnath district, and the videos went viral, Dalits had protested successful immense numbers crossed the state. Around 75 cases were registered against the protesters.