AHMEDABAD: In the first such action since Patel quota stir began, Gujarat police today slapped charges of sedition against a close aide of its spearhead Hardik Patel for allegedly circulating derogatory statements about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and BJP chief Amit Shah.
The police at Morbi in the Saurashtra region registered the case of sedition against a patidar Nilesh Advadiaya, who is believed to be a ceramic trader, in a major development in the agitation. As Nilesh is already in the custody of Ahmedabad police since yesterday, Morbi police is in the proess of taking his custody, sub-inspector Anantkumar Patel who filed the FIR, said.
The FIR says that Nilesh, a resident of Morbi, allegedly made derogatory remarks about the state as well as Modi and other leaders in an audio clip which he circulated through social media ahead of the mega Patel rally in Ahmedabad on August 25. "The audio clip suggests that Nilesh not only used derogatory words for PM, CM and Amit Shah, he also provoked his community to resort to violence and tried to create rift between communities," the SI said.
Apart from IPC section 124 (sedition), other offences for which Nilesh has been booked are section 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot) and 153-A (promoting enmity between different communities).