My Arrest Would Brew Trouble for BJP: Hardik Patel on Warrant

The warrant has reportedly been issued in connection with a case of ransacking the office of the local MLA.

A non-bailable warrant has been issued against Patidar agitation spearhead Hardik Patel on 25 October. Lalaji Patel, who heads the Sardar Patel Group, has also been issued the warrant.

Emphasising that the non-bailable warrant did not affect him, Hardik Patel told The Quint that it would instead brew trouble for the BJP.

I want them to arrest me. Let them come and arrest me. Once they put me behind bars, it will be fun. It works in my favour if they come after me.

Hardik Patel

The warrant has been issued by Visnagar Sessions court in connection with the alleged vandalism of BJP MLA Rishikesh Patel's office. Stones were pelted at the BJP MLA’s car, in 2016, while it was passing through ITI Circle in Mehsana's Visnagar city.

Political atmosphere in poll-bound Gujarat has been heating up ever since rumours about Hardik meeting Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi began making the rounds. Patel, who is in Rajkot on Wednesday, said that he will “let the world know when he meets Rahul Gandhi”.

Speaking to the Ahmedabad Mirror, earlier this week, Patel alleged that Gujarat was the “Surveillance Republic of India”. “It is scary that the government wants to monitor what we eat, what we wear, whom we meet and where we go. Can nobody have a personal life any longer,” he asked on Wednesday, 25 October.

This is India not North Korea. I have a right to fight for a cause. I have a right to meet people I want. It is sad that instead of monitoring criminal activities and law and order, Gujarat government is wasting its police to spy on me.

Hardik Patel to Ahmedabad Mirror

Gujarat elections will be held in two phases – on 9 and 15 December. The election results will be announced on 17 December.