File photo: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday condemned the arrest of two AAP leaders in Gujarat and called on the state government to withdraw charges filed against protesting farmers.Kejriwal was responding to the arrest of Praveen Ram and Raju (Rajubhai) Karpada, AAP’s Gujarat farmer cell head, who were detained while supporting protests by farmers in Botad district. Kejriwal described the action as part of a wider pattern of repression by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has governed Gujarat for three decades.“This government should release innocent farmers,” Kejriwal said. “If you must file cases, file them against AAP leaders. We are not afraid.” He added that AAP has historically supported farmers’ movements and that the party would contest any cases brought against its members. Kejriwal urged the Gujarat government to address two core grievances, he said farmers were raising at a large panchayat (village council) in Hardrad village on Oct. 12:• Alleged “karda” deductions — Farmers say traders agree a price at the mandi (market) and then, after taking a portion at the agreed rate, claim the remainder is of lower quality and pay much less. Kejriwal said this practice results in farmers receiving significantly less than the agreed price.• Transport demands by traders — He said that, despite rules that require traders to buy a farmer’s entire produce at the mandi, farmers are being told to transport crops 30–40 km to a trader’s gin or warehouse at their own expense.Kejriwal said police used force against protesters during the Hardrad gathering and that an FIR was filed listing some 85 farmers, with charges including attempted murder under Section 307. He argued that the state should withdraw cases against poor farmers and suggested that any prosecutions be directed at political leaders instead.Kejriwal invoked historical precedent, recalling the fate of the Congress government in Gujarat after clashes with farmers in the late 1980s. He urged farmers to unite and warned the state ruling party against what he called “arrogance,” saying it could cost the BJP politically. “Until the farmers get their due rights, AAP will take this fight from the streets to the assembly,” he said in a social media post shared with supporters.According to Kejriwal’s account, thousands of farmers had gathered at the Botad panchayat to press the two demands. He said APMC (agricultural produce marketing committee) officials had publicly stated there would be “no more Kalda,” but that the market chair refused to provide a written assurance — prompting the sit-in.Kejriwal said Praveen Ram and Raju Karpada were “continuously present at the protest site” and were arrested by Gujarat police on Thursday. He called for the immediate release of farmers and for authorities to address the grievances that prompted the protests.
