AAP to organise farmers’ mahasammelan against extension of import duty exemption on cotton; convener Kejriwal to attend event

Party says the move would affect Gujarat farmers as “other countries like the US and China would dump their cotton in India”

By: Express News Service

Ahmedabad | September 4, 2025 01:39 AM IST

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Karpada said that along with Kejriwal, other state leaders of the AAP would be present at the event.

Stating that the Centre’s recent decision to extend its import duty exemption on cotton by three months would hurt Gujarat farmers as “other countries like the US and China would dump their cotton in India”, the Gujarat unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday announced it would hold a farmers’ congress (Khedut Mahasammelan) in Chotila town of Surendranagar on September 7. The event would be addressed by the party’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal.

In a press conference on Wednesday, AAP State General Secretary Sagar Rabari and Kisan Cell State President Raju Karpada said the situation of farmers in the country is very difficult.

Rabari said, “Due to the closure of small businesses, people were looking for employment in agriculture by reverse migration. In such a situation, the Indian government has made the import of cotton duty-free, which has created a difficult situation for farmers who cultivate cotton. The US and China also export cotton to India. In such a situation, our trade with China is running at a loss. China is going to take its huge toll on the farmers of Gujarat through the Indian government, and in this situation, the AAP cannot remain silent. The Indian government is continuously doing injustice to the farmers of Gujarat.”

He said, “This year, cotton has been sown in 20,68,000 hectares of land in Gujarat in the current season. The deadline for duty-free cotton import has been extended to December 31. In this situation, it is doubtful whether anyone will hold the hands of Gujarat and India’s farmers.”

Karpada said, “AAP has organised a Maha Khedut Sammelan. This farmers’ conference will be on a scale that has not been seen in 35 years. The main objective of this movement is that the government should make arrangements so that the farmers get a price of Rs 2,100 per quintal for cotton. If the farmers do not get an adequate price, then extra budgetary measures should be allocated for relief.”

Karpada said that along with Kejriwal, other state leaders of the AAP would be present at the event. “If even after this mahasammelan the government does not accept the demands of the farmers, AAP will hold a Kisan Mahasammelan in every district. After that, if necessary, it will hold a protest in Gandhinagar by bringing together all the farmers of Gujarat,” he added.

According to a statement from the Press Information Bureau on Wednesday, “The Procurement of cotton under MSP will commence from 1st October in the North States, 15th October in the Central States and from 21st October 2025 in the South States.”

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