Hardik Patel, leader of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), and more than 100 of his supporters were detained here and in other parts of Gujarat on Sunday before he could go on a hunger strike.
Mr. Patel had announced a day-long fast in protest against the denial of permission to hold a rally on August 25 to mark the third anniversary of the Patidar agitation for reservation.
The police detained him while he and his supporters were on their way to Nikol for the protest.
The police said Mr. Patel did not have the permission for the protest. The Ahmedabad municipal corporation had cancelled it. He then said he would fast inside a parked car.
Following Mr. Patel’s detention, PAAS supporters blocked roads in Surat, Rajkot and other parts of Gujarat, demanding the release of their leader.
“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 allowing permission even for a peaceful protest,” Mr. Patel said.
“Everyone has a right to agitate in a constitutional way but in Gujarat, the BJP government prevents us from mobilising or agitating. We are deprived of our rights by the BJP government but we will not sit quietly; we will fight and win,” he tweeted.
