On Tuesday, Patel, the convener of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, was briefly detained by the Ahmedabad police briefly for staying on at the protest site for a hunger strike beyond the permitted time. Even though Patel was released a couple of hours later, it proved to be a little too late to control the agitated protesters.
Buses were burned, schools were shut, three police stations were set ablaze, stones pelted and people were also reportedly dragged out of their homes and beaten up in parts of Gujarat, leading to curfew being imposed in Surat and Mehsana, which is the home district of not just Chief Minister Anandiben Patel but also of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah.
While Patel blamed the police for an unprovoked lathicharge, he also issued an appeal for peace on state television channel, even though he has not exactly been subtle with his warnings to the ruling BJP, claiming that “the lotus won’t bloom in 2017” if his demands aren’t met.
"If you do not give our right, we will snatch it. Whoever will talk of the interest of Patels will rule over Patels," he told a gathering in Ahmedabad.
Patel also appealed on WhatsApp for calm following clashes over his brief detention. "I make an appeal to maintain peace and keep calm. I give a call for Gujarat bandh tomorrow (Wednesday). This decision has been taken by Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti considering widespread violence in the state."
While the police cut off internet services on mobile phones as a security measure to check rumours that could exacerbate tension and as the Gujarat government tries to grapple with the agitation that threatens to trigger off a caste war in the state, social media is abuzz with conspiracy theories about the antecedents and backers of Patel, responding to the situation with its sardonic humour. Here’s a selection:
Hardik Patel knows the aspirations of ambitious Indians better than Modi, Young India demands reservation!
— Liberal Of New Delhi (@LiberalsOfDelhi) August 26, 2015
Exclusive image of Hardik patel beating superman pic.twitter.com/zIFziKnluw
— Andy (@BeingContinuous) August 26, 2015
Good Morning! Wish u a violence free day! ( courtesy: Hardik Patel)
— nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) August 26, 2015
I want Hardik Patel to give CAT-2015 so it can be confirmed that his logical reasoning is ZERO.
— Supreme Leader (@engineerbyheart) August 26, 2015
Hardik Patel has called for 'Gujarat Bandh' today in protest against the BJP Government in Gujarat. #FailedGujaratModel
— Vinod Mehta (@DrunkVinodMehta) August 26, 2015
Patel rally in Ahmedabad. My #cartoon #hardikpatel pic.twitter.com/jMGEuKPtv2
— MANJUL (@MANJULtoons) August 25, 2015
One thing is confirmed by seeing Hardik Patel- Gujarat malnutrition reports were bogus. Aisa kaam koi khata peeta aadmi hi kar sakta hai.
— one tip one hand (@OneTipOneHand_) August 25, 2015
Looking to Hardik Patel - Ashmit Patel was found in a sad state hoping for reservations in Bollywood. pic.twitter.com/3zvtvffYKW
— ThakurSaab. (@HathwalaThakur) August 25, 2015
Less Known Fact: Imran Khan and Hardik Patel have tattoo of Arvind Kejriwal on their arm.
— उमर अब्दुल्लाह (@abdullah_0mar) August 25, 2015
Rise of #hardikpatel is symptom of counter reaction when 50% of slots are blocked, unlike as per original constitutional intent, for ever.
— K. C. Singh (@ambkcsingh) August 26, 2015
#HardikPatel is #BabyKejriwal...
— Ashok Garekar (@DrGarekar) August 26, 2015
Hardik Patel says that getting a quota is his right. Yes the rest of us are all fools for working hard to get education and jobs
— Amreekan Desi (@amreekandesi) August 26, 2015
NaMo should have introduced Hardik Patel to social media. Dude is just 22yrs, he’d spend all time on Twitter, Tinder, become entrepreneur.
— Anupam Gupta (@b50) August 26, 2015
This Hardik Patel is 21 ? Looking at him I'm convinced he is also an FTII student. pic.twitter.com/ne49SkjLVO
— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) August 25, 2015
Hardik Patel never fill petrol tank of his bike more than a litre so as to see the fuel indicator under reserve part : #YoHardikSoReserved
— ThakurSaab. (@HathwalaThakur) August 25, 2015
#YoHardikSoReserved that the makers of Bahubali already told him why did Kattappa kill Bahubali
— Bhak Sala (@bhak_sala) August 25, 2015
#YoHardikSoReserved that IRCTC is introducing a special Tier called Hardik Patel
— Bhak Sala (@bhak_sala) August 25, 2015