A day after mobile Internet was blocked following sporadic violence, the services resumed on Sunday across Gujarat, except in Mehsana district. Police had banned mobile data services on Saturday following detention and arrest of Hardik Patel, leader of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, in Surat and reports of violence. There were no report of any major violence as normalcy returned to the state on Sunday. However, escalating his aggression over the Patel quota issue, Hardik on Sunday said the ruling BJP would face “adverse” outcome in the forthcoming local body elections as he threatened to “dump” in “well” those politicians who kept mum on “atrocities” committed by police on members of his community last month. [related-post] He also blamed the state government for the sporadic violence that had erupted after his arrest on Saturday for defying prohibitory orders in place for his “Ekta March”. “This is such a condition where the ruling party can be uprooted from their power. We have dug a huge well where we will throw all the political leaders against us, including the leaders of the ruling party,” he told reporters in Surat. Earlier, mobile Internet services were resumed in Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara in the afternoon as no violence was reported in these districts. The ban was lifted in Rajkot at around 8 pm. Mehsana residents, however, would have to wail till Monday morning to use mobile data services. “Both in rural and urban areas of the district, the ban would be lifted from 8 am on Monday,” said Meshana collector Lochan Sehra. Patel-dominated Mehsana is considered to be one of the most sensitive districts during the ongoing stir. Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police Shivanand Jha, in a notification, stated, “Taking the present situation in view, there is no need to extend the ban implemented for 24 hours.” Although no incident of protest or rioting was reported from Vadodara on Saturday, the mobile Internet services were suspended as a “precaution”, the police said. Commissioner of Police E Radhakrishan said, “We have reviewed the situation and it appears to be peaceful.” With PTI inputs
