In a major jolt to the electoral aspirations of both disruptionist political leader Hardik Patel and his patron Congress party, the Gujarat High Court has refused to stay his conviction. The court has currently deferred the hearing on his conviction indefinitely, practically nullifying his chances to contest the current Lok Sabha elections.
In a major decision taken by the bench of honorableGujarat High Court, Hardik Patel, an influential leader of the Patidar community, has been denied a stay on his conviction. For those unaware, the local court of Visnagar had found Hardik guilty of inciting riots in Mehsana district in the name of protests for getting reservation quota for the Patidars in 2015. He was consequently sentenced to imprisonment for 2 years in 2017, against which Hardik had filed an appeal, though in vain.
Needless to say, Hardik Patel went all out against the authorities, lamenting on the biased attitude towards his cause. He said, “Why a 25-year-old Congress worker is being stopped from contesting polls? There are several BJP leaders too, who have cases as well as convictions against them, but the law exists only for me.
My only fault is that I did not bend before the BJP. This is the result of fighting the establishment. I will not be cowed down by the ruling and would campaign for the Congress not just in Gujarat, but the entire nation.”
Following are of the tweets posted by Hardik Patel after the subsequent judgment pronounced by the High Court:
https://twitter.com/HardikPatel_/status/1111588852005826561
https://twitter.com/HardikPatel_/status/1111588779352117249
Hardik Patel has also hinted at appealing in the Supreme Court. However, it would be near impossible to secure himself a stay on the conviction at such short notice and to contest the Lok Sabha elections. The last date for the nominations of Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat is 4 April, and the state shall go for polling on 23rd April.
Hardik Patel is notorious for having brought anarchy into Gujarat through his violent protests for reservations. He was shown as the face of a resurgent Gujarat against the tyranny of BJP led government in the assembly elections of 2017 and was openly backed by Congress.
Despite the abject failure, the bonhomie between Congress and Hardik never dissipated, and after he was formally admitted into the party by 12 March, Congress left no stone unturned in order to ensure that Hardik contests the elections. However, we’re thankful to Gujarat High Court for not only foiling their nefarious plans, but also restoring sanity to the state of Gujarat.