In a shocking display of political repression, the BJP government on Sunday blocked the farmers’ Mahapanchayat that was scheduled to take place at Botad Market Yard under a pre-announced Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) programme. Gujarat AAP President Isudan Gadhvi, who was on his way to attend the event, was arrested midway by the state police. AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, along with AAP Gujarat Prabhari Gujarat Gopal Rai and other senior leaders, strongly condemned the BJP government’s repressive action, calling it an assault on democratic rights and the voice of the farmers.
AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal condemned the arrest in a post on social media platform X, questioning the deteriorating state of democracy in Gujarat. “What is happening in Gujarat? Aam Aadmi Party’s Gujarat President Isudan Gadhvi was on his way to attend a farmers’ meeting, and police arrested him midway. A full cycle of oppression is underway against farmers in Gujarat,” the AAP Chief said.
Senior AAP leader and Gujarat Prabhari Gopal Rai also took to X, slamming the BJP government for its authoritarian actions. “In protest against the BJP government’s repressive policies on farmers, AAP’s Gujarat President Isudan Gadhvi was on his way to attend the Kisan Mahapanchayat at Botad Market Yard when police arrested him midway. This arrest is an attack on democracy. The people of Gujarat will give a fitting reply to this oppression,” Gopal Rai stated.
It is noteworthy that cotton farmers in Gujarat have been protesting for fair prices for their produce. When farmers failed to receive just rates in the markets, their leaders—including Raju Bhai Karpada and several AAP representatives—were detained by police. On Saturday, Gujarat in-charge Gopal Rai had appealed to the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state to immediately fulfil the legitimate demands of cotton farmers. He had warned that if the demands were not accepted by 5 p.m. on Sunday, AAP would hold a Mahapanchayat at Botad Marketing Yard to raise the farmers’ voice. Furthermore, he stated that if justice continued to be denied to cotton farmers, the agitation would be extended to all marketing yards across Gujarat.
It was under this declared programme that Isudan Gadhvi was heading to the Mahapanchayat on Sunday when he was stopped and arrested by Gujarat Police—an action that has once again exposed the BJP government’s intolerance toward farmers’ movements and democratic dissent.
