In the wake of Hardik Patel's threat, mobile internet blocked and stadium secured in Rajkot

Hardik Patel’s protest has resulted in a heavily fortified Rajkot stadium

Due to the agitation threat by reservation leader Hardik Patel, mobile internet services have been blocked in Rajkot to ensure a proper conduct of the ODI match between India and South Africa. The removal began on Saturday and will last until Monday.

Manisha Chandra, Rajkot Collector stated, “We have decided to ban mobile internet services from 10 pm tonight till 8 am on October 19 to maintain peace, stop rumours and for the smooth conduct of the international cricket match.”

Earlier, the 22-year-old quota-stir activist who has been protesting to include reservation for people to the Patidar community in both government and education streams, had issued a threat in which he called upon the members of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) to block the entry of the Indian and South African teams to the Rajkot stadium.

Following his open threat, the administrators have cordoned off access to the stadium and granted tickets to only those who could furnish proof of identification. The police officers have also deployed massive security detail in order to prevent any untoward incidents.

DR Patel, Rajkot IG assured, “Over two thousand policemen, three companies of State Reserve Police Force, one company of Rapid Action Force, and seven teams of quick response cells and five Superintendents of Police have been deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the match.”

He added, “Besides, three drone cameras and 90 CCTVs have been installed at the stadium to closely monitor each and every movement of the viewers.” He also warned his department officers to be focus on the security and not on the match.

Meanwhile, Hardik Patel's confidante Dinesh Patel asserted that the stadium officials could not prevent members of the PAAS from entering into the venue as they had already purchased numerous tickets.

Dinesh Patel revealed, “We believe that the world should see how the Patel community is being harassed in the so-called development model of Gujarat. We have reports that BJP men will create a ruckus at the match venue and they will blame us for that. They are going to spoil the image of the country, we will never wish that.”