Stopped from meeting AAP workers in Rajkot Jail: Arvind Kejriwal

“Those in custody were denied water for 24 hours, given no food and beaten,” Arvind Kejriwal said.

Arvind Kejriwal, Aam Aadmi Party, AAP, Rajkot Jail, farmer leaders, kadada pratha,

Arvind Kejriwal said he heard many farmers whose children had been arrested. (Photo: X/Arvind Kejriwal)

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said he was stopped from meeting party workers lodged at Rajkot Jail. They are among those booked for attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy among other charges, after a kisan mahapanchayat in Hadadad village of Botad turned violent, leading to clashes with the police on October 12.

In a press conference, Kejriwal said, “I was going to visit Rajkot jail to meet the farmers leaders currently imprisoned, but was prevented from doing so. What could be more dictatorial than this? Am I a terrorist? I had sought permission yesterday, but this morning received a message stating I was not allowed to meet them. When the British jailed Bhagat Singh, even then his colleagues were allowed to meet him. Did our freedom fighters fight for independence only to face a government that is more cruel than the British?”

AAP’s Sagar Rabari had earlier sought permission from the Rajkot Commissioner of Police for the party delegation to meet AAP leaders lodged at Rajkot Jail including Raju Karpada, Pravin Ram, Raju Borkhatariya, Ramesh Mer, Mahesh Kotadiya, Rohit Bhuva and Piyush Parmar.

Speaking on the kadada pratha that was the cause of the Botad agitation, Kejriwal said, “Farmers strike deals at Rs1,500 but are forced to accept Rs 1,200. When farmers united against this exploitative kadada pratha, the BJP government unleashed lathi-charge on them, filing false cases and arresting 88 of them. Police even skipped court hearings on bail days.” Kejriwal claimed these were attempts to break their morale.

Must Read | Hadadad agitation will turn into a ‘BJP Quit Gujarat’ movement: Kejriwal in Rajkot

Kejriwal further said, “Those in custody were denied water for 24 hours, given no food and beaten. What does the BJP want? Mai kehta hun, Bhagwan se daro (I say, you should fear God).”

Kejriwal also touched on the various paper leaks in government exams. Taking up the issue of drugs, he said, “Today, drugs are available in every lane. Every family in Gujarat is being devastated by this government. But I believe these are their final days, because people across Gujarat are rising.”

The former Delhi CM said he heard many farmers whose children had been arrested – and they couldn’t work in their fields – were helped by other villagers. He said, “After 30 years, Gujarat has been reduced to drugs and potholes. It is time to end this.”

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On AAP as the third alternative in Gujarat, Kejriwal said, “Earlier, people had no alternative because the Congress and BJP were hand in glove. But now the Aam Aadmi Party is being discussed in every household. People look to leaders like Gopal Italia, Isudan Gadhvi, Raju Karpara, Pravin Ram, Chaitar Vasava and Manoj Sorathiya with great hope. Tell me one BJP or Congress leader who gives hope to the people of Gujarat. They have none.”

“The BJP government uses FIRs as a tool to intimidate people. I myself spent six months in jail. They may jail you too, we will fight for you. There are elections in two years and when we form the government, every false cases will be closed within 24 hours and all the ministers harassing the farmers will be put in jail,” he added.

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