In a major solidarity with Gujarat’s agitating farmers, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal will hold a massive Mahapanchayat on October 31 — the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel — to protest the BJP government’s crackdown on farmers. The Mahapanchayat, to be held in the Limdi Assembly constituency of Surendranagar district, will also see the participation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. During their visit, AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann will meet families of farmers imprisoned for protesting against the Karda system and chart the future course of the farmers’ movement, senior AAP leader and Gujarat Prabhari Gopal Rai announced at a press conference in Delhi on Sunday.
BJP government in Gujarat has unleashed
In a press conference, senior AAP leader and Gujarat Prabhari Gopal Rai said that instead of accepting the farmers’ just demands against the exploitative Karda Pratha (Karda system), the BJP government in Gujarat has unleashed brutal repression against them — lathi-charging peaceful protestors, filing false cases, and throwing them in jail. “The BJP thinks it can deceive the people of Gujarat by reshuffling its cabinet, but that will not work,” he said, adding that farmers have resolved to continue their agitation until the Karda Pratha is abolished and a legal guarantee for MSP-based procurement is implemented. The AAP Gujarat Prabhari explained that under the Karda Pratha, exploitation of farmers continues unabated in Gujarat’s agricultural markets. Since October 10, farmers across the state have been agitating against this oppressive system. However, instead of addressing their demands, the BJP government has resorted to lathis, tear gas, fabricated FIRs, and imprisonment to suppress their voices. “By changing and expanding its cabinet, the BJP is attempting to mislead the people, but that will not succeed,” he said.
Placed under house arrest
Announcing the next phase of the movement, Gopal Rai stated, “On October 31, the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, AAP Gujarat will organise a Kisan Mahapanchayat in Sudamda village, Limdi constituency, Surendranagar district. Representatives from 400 agricultural Mandia across Gujarat will participate. AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann will address the gathering and decide the future strategy of the movement.”
Recounting the sequence of events, Gopal Rai said that on October 10, farmers at the Botad district market demanded the abolition of Karda Pratha, but the market administration refused to listen. Farmers, along with AAP Kisan leader Rajubhai Karpada, were peacefully sitting on a dharna when they were arrested at 3 a.m. The market was forcibly closed. On October 12, when farmers announced a Kisan Mahapanchayat in Botad, the area was turned into a cantonment zone. AAP Gujarat President Isudan Gadhvi, Youth Wing President Brijraj Solanki, Women’s Wing President Reshma Patel, and General Secretary Sagar Rabari, among others, were arrested or placed under house arrest.
Governor through District Magistrates across all districts
“When the Mahapanchayat could not be held at the market, farmers assembled around 6 p.m. in Hadad village, 3–4 km away from Botad. But on the orders of Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi, the village was surrounded. Stones were pelted from behind, lathis were used, tear gas shells were fired, doors were broken, women and elders were humiliated, and 69 people were thrown in jail. These individuals are still imprisoned and spent their Diwali behind bars,” Gopal Rai said.
He added that on October 13, a Black Day was observed across Gujarat to protest the government’s atrocities. On October 15, AAP sent a team of lawyers led by MLAs Hemant Khava, Sagar Rabari, and Raju Solanki to meet the families of the arrested farmers and take responsibility for their legal defence. On October 16, Rajubhai Karpada and Praveen Ram announced an indefinite hunger strike at the AAP office in Ahmedabad, but they were arrested and jailed before reaching there. That same day, Sumit Pawar, Chairman of the Taluka Panchayat Business Committee, resigned in protest against the repression. On October 17, protest letters were sent to the Governor through District Magistrates across all districts. On October 20, families across Gujarat lit lamps in solidarity with the 69 jailed farmers.
Gopal Rai said that during the October 31 Kisan Mahapanchayat, Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann will meet the families of the imprisoned farmers and formulate the next phase of the movement. “Today, Gujarat stands divided into two camps: one represented by the BJP, which is crushing farmers’ voices, and the other by AAP, which is fighting for their rights,” he said.He further pointed out that in July, both cattle rearers at Sabarkantha’s Sabar Dairy and farmers at Hadad faced brutal lathi charges, tear gas, and fabricated cases. “The very Home Minister, Harsh Sanghvi, who oversaw this repression, has now been rewarded by the BJP with the post of Deputy Chief Minister,” Rai remarked.
