Remember Hardik Patel? (Another long story)

He was the most-talked about kid in town. At a rally of Gujjar and Kurmi communities from UP, MP and Rajasthan, he was introduced to the crowd which was dazzled by his oratory as "the future prime minister of the country". That was August 31, 2015.

Not so long ago.

Today, Hardik Patel, Convenor of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), is lodged in Surat's Lajpore Central Jail, booked under charges of sedition.

Patel, of course, says he will continue his quota-for-Patidars agitation when he gets bail. Eventually. But there's a catch.

The hearing on his bail plea, along with three others - Chirag Patel, Ketan Patel and Dinesh Bambhania - was put off, two Mondays ago (February 29). For the 7th time.

On the 6th occasion (February 23), it was put off because the special prosecutor wanted time to go through the records. He was newly appointed. He is, as yet, to file a reply to the bail plea.

Further, the additional sessions judge, before whom the plea is to be heard, was also not available on February 29. And, the Gujarat police keep a keen eye on the confined Patel.

The police have now filed another case against the lad. On March 5, they said that they had found two mobile phones (one outside Patel's barrack), as also chargers and a phone battery in the jail surroundings.

So, a case has been booked against him under Indian Penal Code Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and relevant sections of Prison Act for "receiving, bringing prohibited articles in prison cells."

But why is Hardik in this situation?

Because...

Says Wikipedia, "in July 2015, Hardik's sister Monica failed to qualify for a state government scholarship. He was upset when a friend of Monica's qualified for the same scholarship through the OBC quota, even though she had scored lower marks."

Hardik apparently feels that Patidars are also entitled to reservation benefits, if some others are getting it. So, he formed the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, as "a non-political organization", and addressed his first rally in Visnagar, Gujarat on July 6 2015.

Too quick to organise from his date of being upset, I think, but this article is not about THAT conspiracy theory.

Subsequently, he organised several rallies across Gujarat, attracting millions of followers with the rallying slogan "Jai Sardar".

On August 25, Patidars from all over Gujarat gathered at GMDC ground Ahmedabad for the "Patidar Kranti Diwas" rally. Hardik was arrested that evening for wilfully assembling "five or more persons" after being told to disperse. Violent protests broke out in response, forcing the Gujarat government to impose a curfew and call in the Indian Army. Hardik was now a national figure.

On September 9, he launched the Patel Navnirman Sena, threatening to launch an all-India agitation demanding quotas for not just Patidars, but also "affiliated" communities like Kurmis and Gujjars.

On September 23, he surfaced after a brief disappearance, claiming he had been "abducted" by some people with weapons.

On October 18, the Rajkot police booked him for insulting the National Flag during a one-day international. He was taken to Surat and released that very evening, but past midnight, the Surat police arrested him again, laying the dreadful charge of sedition against him.

The cops alleged, on the basis of a video recording of October 3, that Hardik had urged some Patidar friends to policemen instead of immolating themselves.

"If you have so much in you, kill two to five policemen but no Patel will die now," he allegedly said on the video that went viral. The police also invoked other sections relating to promoting enmity between different groups and criminal intimidation.

All this seems familiar, right?

Some of you will say Gujarat/Modi conspiracy and do feel free to. But the matter is legal. There are courts. There is due process.

The matter came up even before the Supreme Court in November. The redoubtable Kapil Sibal argued that Hardik's statement on video cannot be seen as an incitement to commit an offence against the State.

“If somebody says go and kill five policemen... what will happen if that person goes and kills five policemen... Is that no incitement to commit an offence?” Justice Khehar countered.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat government is trying to cut a deal with Hardik.

Moral: I would like to offer him advice, something I would tell my own children: "Take it." Get on with life. Don't trust media attention. Don't trust professional politicians. They don't care about anyone.

He is still in prison. He is 22 years old.

(Prakash Belawadi is a well known theatre personality, cinema actor, writer and a journalist. His recent movie is "Airlift". He lives in Bengaluru. Above article is taken from his Facebook Page)