Hardik extends support to protesting Dalits

Udaipur:Gujarat’s Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel today backed Dalits who have been protesting against the brutal thrashing of youths belonging to the community in Una town of Gir-Somnath district last week.

Patel, who is in Udaipur after his release from jail, said that Dalits have faced exploitation and their demands are justified.

Targeting Gujarat Police, Patel said the police worked at the behest of the state government and had exploited the Patel community earlier.

Patel, who was released from jail in Gujarat after nine months in confinement, has to stay outside Gujarat for six months as per the Gujarat High Court direction and he has been staying at a former Congress MLA’s place in Udaipur.

Gujarat has been witnessing widespread protests following the incident at Una where seven Dalit youths were beaten up for allegedly killing a cow.