The Patel community which is demanding reservations under the OBC quota is all set for a show of strength with its ambitious mega-rally here tomorrow.
Patel leaders' call for bandh tomorrow, and the police's decision to declare some of the main roads as no-go areas and request to the people not to leave house unless in the case of emergency, are likely to bring the commercial capital of Gujarat to a grinding halt.
According to the convener of 'Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti' Hardik Patel who is leading the agitation, a 'Maha-Kranti Rally' will be organised after a mass gathering at GMDC ground.
"To avoid inconvenience to the locals we have called for a complete bandh in the city as well as in Gujarat. I appeal the authorities to close schools, colleges and other businesses tomorrow," he said.
Patels are unrelenting even though the Chief Minister Anandiben Patel yesterday expressed inability to include the community in the OBC category and requested the leaders to end the agitation and come forward for negotiations. Her video message was constantly aired on local TV channels today.
Security has been beefed up for the public meeting and the rally for which police gave permission today.
Police commissioner Shivanand Jha said foolproof security arrangements have been made, and more than 17,000 police personnel -- including 20 superintendents of police, 62 deputy SPs, 244 inspectors, 504 sub-inspectors, 13,000 constables and head-constables and 817 policewomen -- would be deployed.
Thousands of Patel community members have already landed here from many parts of the state.
