New Delhi/Ahmedabad: As violence continued unabated, the Prime Minister invoked Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel to emphasise that violence benefited none. “In the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, violence has been resorted to as a tool... violence has never done good for anyone,” the Prime Minister said.
Mr Modi observed, “Everybody should respect democratic values.” Later in the evening, the Prime Minister called a high-level meeting to take stock of the situation. The meeting was attended by home minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Arun Jaitley, defence minister Manohar Parrikar, parliamentary affairs minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and shipping minister Nitin Gadkari.
Despite the Prime Minister’s appeal, Patel community members resorted to arson, stone-pelting and vandalising public as well as private properties, police said. Six people were killed in police firing, while one died of head injuries during clashes which started Tuesday night.
Curfew has been clamped in Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Mehsana, Patan, Palanpur, Unjha, Visnagar and Jamnagar. Appealing for peace, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel said that 53 companies of CRPF have been deployed.
We didn’t order to arrest: CM
Anandiben Patel on Wednesday denied that her government gave orders to police to lathicharge the protesters at a rally in Ahmedabad, which led to violent protests and backlash by the Patel community members demanding reservation. The lathicharge by police and brief detention of community leader Hardik Patel on Tuesday had set off violence across the state, leading to imposition of curfew at many places and death of at least five persons.
“I have already ordered an inquiry into the lathicharge incident at GMDC ground. Gujarat DGP is conducting the probe. Government is waiting for the report. This government did not give any orders for lathicharge or using excess force,” said Ms Patel after the Legislative Assembly was adjourned for the day on the first day of the Monsoon Session.
