Patidars to protest tomorrow over renaming Sardar Patel Stadium after PM Modi
India Today
Patidar community is demanding the renaming of Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi stadium after Sardar Patel.
Members of the Patidar community and various organisations on Sunday will hold a protest demanding the renaming of Narendra Modi stadium in Gujarat's Ahmedabad. The Motera cricket stadium was earlier named after Sardar Patel.
The stadium, one of the largest in the world, has become a flash point ahead of the state polls as Patidar groups have come together under 'Sardar Sanman Sankalp Andolan Samiti' demanding a name change.
The group which carried Patidar Andolan in 2015, Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), under the stewardship of Hardik Patel, will also be supporting the protest and will be taking part in the rallies and protest marches.
On Sunday, the group will hold a rally from Swaraj Ashram in Bardoli Surat to the stadium in Ahmedabad. On Monday evening, the group will reach the stadium and a huge protest is planned in front of Gate no 1.
"If the government does not change the name, we will intensify our protest. During the election they built a huge statue [of Sardar Patel] and after the elections changed the name of the stadium. We will not allow this government to misuse Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's name. It is time to give honour back to Sardar Patel," Atul Patel, convener of the group, told India Today.
No political banners or party leaders will be allowed at the protest. Patidars from all over Gujarat were asked to join them. However, Gujarat Police is on alert ahead of the rally and protest.
