Quota stir leader Hardik Patel to walk out of jail on July 15

After spending nine months behind bars, quota agitation leader Hardik Patel is all set to walk out of Lajpore jail in Surat on Friday morning, days after the Gujarat High Court granted him bail in cases of sedition and violence pertaining to Patidar stir last year.
The Patidar Anamant Andolan Samiti (PAAS), of which Hardik is the convener, has planned to felicitate their leader outside Lajpore jail at around 10 AM on July 15.
As per the schedule released by PAAS today, Hardik will travel to several places during 48 hours after his release before leaving Gujarat for six months.

Last week, the HC paved the way for Hardik's release after granting him bail in two cases of sedition and a case related to violence at Visnagar MLA's office.
While granting him bail in sedition cases, the HC set a condition that Hardik will have to stay outside Gujarat for the next six months.
As per the HC direction, Hardik will have to leave Gujarat within 48 hours after his release from jail.

PAAS said that the quota leader will travel to many parts of the state during 48 hours which end before July 17 midnight.
According to PAAS, no decision is taken yet on the place where Hardik will spend six months.

After coming out of jail, Hardik's caravan will pass by different parts of Surat city, including Bhestan, Ring Road, Kapodra, Mini Bazar, and Varachha area, which are mostly dominated by Patels.
"He will then garland Sardar Patel's statues in Bhestan and Mini Bazar areas in the city," PAAS leader Dinesh Bambhaniya said while releasing the schedule.
PAAS has also planned a public gathering at Laxminarayan farm on the outskirts of Surat, subject to permission by police.
"We will arrange our programme as per the law and the instructions of the high court. We will arrange the public gathering only if the police grants us permission" said Bambhaniya, a close aide of Hardik.

From Suart, Hardik would reach Vastral area of Ahmedabad city for night stay.
"On the morning of July 16, he will go to his native place Viramgam to meet his parents. He will be welcomed by a large number of supporters. Hardik will then come back here to complete a formality in city sessions court during afternoon. Then, he will embark on a journey to Botad where he will visit Sarangpur Hanuman temple," said Bambhaniya.
After a road show in Botad, Hardik and his supporters will visit Khodaldham temple in Rajkot district and then Umiyadham temple in Jamnagar district in evening.

"From Umiyadham, Hardik will come back to Viramgam via
Morbi at night. On July 17, Hardik will visit some north Gujarat towns such as Chanasma, Patan, Siddhapur, Palanpur, Idar and Vadgam. His journey will finally end at Himmatnagar. Hardik will be felicitated by Patels during his entire journey," said Bambhaniya.
When asked about where Hardik will put up for the next six months, he said, "As of now, no decision is taken about where Hardik will stay after July 17, as we are getting invitation from our supporters from across the country. It will be clear only after Hardik comes out and takes a decision about it."

Meanwhile, senior minister and the Gujarat government spokesperson Nitin Patel said, "I hope that Hardik and his supporters will keep in mind the conditions set by high court while granting bail. They should be careful in organising programmes which could create trouble".
Hardik, who had spearheaded agitation for quota for the Patidar community, was arrested in October 2015. He was accused of inciting violence to put pressure on the government to accept the demand for granting reservation to Patels under the OBC category.
Hardik's mega rally on reservation held in Ahmedabad on August 25 last year had sparked violence, in which 10 people, including one policeman, were killed and public properties and vehicles were destroyed across Gujarat.

Hardik was booked in two cases of sedition in Surat and Ahmedabad, besides under various sections of IPC along with his supporters.
In Visnagar case, Hardik and 17 others were accused of ransacking the office of Visnagar MLA Rishikesh Patel during one of the Patidar community's reservation rallies.