Ahmedabad, Aug 19 Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel and several of his supporters were detained by the police in Ahmedabad on Sunday ahead of the former's hunger strike.
The Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik had announced a day-long hunger strike on Sunday in protest against the State Government's denial to allow him to hold a mega gathering on August 25 - marking the third anniversary of the Patidar mega rally in 2015, which triggered riots across the State.
On Sunday, as Hardik and his supporters headed to Nikol for a day's hunger strike, the police detained over 100 supporters from different parts of Gujarat, including Hardik, for illegally attempting to hold hunger strike.
The police claimed Hardik was organising the protest and hunger strike without prior permission from the authorities. Hardik, on the other hand, had declared that he along with his supporters would observe a day's fast sitting at parked cars in Nikol area in the absence of an approval for a place.
Following the news of Hardik's detention, PAAS supporters from different parts of Gujarat, including Surat and Rajkot, rushed to the streets and tried to block the roads demanding the release of their leader.
Hardik had earlier announced launching an indefinite hunger strike from August 25 to revive the reservation agitation and push for the demand of OBC quota for the Patidar (Patel) community.
"We have assured the authorities that the protest will not affect law and order and will be observed on Gandhian principles of non-violence. But they seem to be helpless in not allowing permission even for a peaceful protest," Hardik stated.