New Delhi, Aug 27 (IANS): The Congress on Thursday accused the BJP government in Gujarat of pushing the state into "mindless" violence and arson.

"Entire Gujarat has sunk into lawlessness," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told the media here.

"The army has been called in four towns. Eight innocent people have died and over 1,000 are injured.

"Hundreds have been arrested without warrant. Police not only did brutal lathicharge without provocation but fired on innocents leading to multiple deaths," he said.

"We condemn this violence in the strongest possible words and appeal to people of Gujarat to maintain peace and harmony," he said.

Surjewala said the Congress wants to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel "whether this is the real truth of Gujarat model where unemployment, hunger, regionalism, rule the roost on a bed of violence?"

The army was called in, in Surat, Rajkot and Mehsana cities on Thursday after violence erupted following an agitation by the Patel community demanding OBC status and reservation.

A statewide shutdown was observed in Gujarat on Wednesday, a day after a Patidar mega-rally was held here demanding reservations in education and jobs.