Last month, the Patel community's demand for job quotas dramatically caught the nation's attention. Their agitation in Gujarat reminded of the dangers of Mandal politics, in which castes and communities stir and shake the state apparatus to secure reservations in education and government jobs. Though the wool of reservation is an old fabric, it was newly dyed by 22-year-old Hardik Patel who used social media platforms as well as Internet-based messaging services to effectively mobilize large crowds.
When the crowds turned violent, the Gujarat government swiftly blocked public access to mobile Internet services for close to a week. This was legally implemented under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which gives the state government broad powers to prevent unlawful assemblies of people. This provision has been used in the past to impose curfews as a means to prevent protests that can lead to unrest or riots.