Ahmedabad, Feb 7 (NationPress) The Gujarat government has officially dismissed sedition and other serious charges against leaders of the Patidar movement, including Hardik Patel, Dilip Sabva, Alpesh Kathiriya, and Lalji Patel. This announcement, made by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, has been met with significant approval from the Patidar community.

Viramgam MLA and noted Patidar figure Hardik Patel shared his thanks on social media, saying, "During the Patidar agitation, I faced numerous serious charges, including sedition, along with many young individuals from our community. Today, under the leadership of Bhupendra Patel, the government has dismissed these charges. On behalf of our community, I extend my genuine gratitude to the BJP administration in Gujarat."

The Patidar Andolan, which started in 2015 in Gujarat, was a pivotal socio-political movement initiated by the Patidar (Patel) community, seeking reservation under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category to improve access to government employment and education.

Led by Hardik Patel and the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), the movement began with peaceful demonstrations but escalated into a massive rally on August 25, 2015, in Ahmedabad, attracting over 500,000 participants.

However, tensions rose when police apprehended Hardik Patel, leading to violent confrontations, arson, internet blackouts, and police shootings, which resulted in the deaths of 14 Patidar protesters. The Gujarat government retaliated with a crackdown, leading to arrests and sedition charges against several leaders, including Hardik Patel.

Despite facing numerous legal challenges and the Gujarat High Court rejecting their OBC request, the movement significantly influenced the 2017 Assembly Elections in Gujarat, causing many Patidars to shift their allegiance to the opposition Congress party.

Over time, several prominent Patidar leaders, including Hardik Patel, transitioned into mainstream politics, with Hardik joining the BJP in 2022.

Patidar leaders, including Dinesh Bambhania, also took to social media to rejoice over the decision. Bambhania expressed, "The cases filed during the agitation, including sedition charges, have been dismissed. I thank CM Bhupendra Patel and proclaim, 'Satyamev Jayate, Jai Sardar.'"

While Patidar leaders greeted the withdrawal warmly, other political figures expressed concerns regarding cases from other movements.

MLA Alpesh Thakor called on the government to extend similar relief to individuals involved in OBC and Dalit movements. "If the government is dropping cases linked to the Patidar movement, it should also consider those from the OBC and Dalit movements," he emphasized.

PAAS leader Chirag Patel and MLA Kirit Patel voiced skepticism, noting that no formal announcement had been issued by the government yet.

"While Hardik Patel has tweeted about it, an official statement from the government is still awaited. We look forward to further clarification," stated Kirit Patel.

Former PAAS convener and BJP figure Alpesh Kathiriya confirmed that 14 cases tied to the Patidar movement had been dismissed, adding that efforts were ongoing to address additional cases from 2017 onward.

"We have consistently pushed for this demand, and we anticipate that the government will provide an official announcement soon," he concluded.