Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal condemned the arrest of Raju Karpada, the head of the party’s Gujarat Farmer Cell, who was taken into custody by Gujarat Police early Saturday morning. Karpada’s arrest followed his protest at the Botad Marketing Yard, where he addressed farmers’ concerns regarding alleged unfair deductions in cotton sales.
Kejriwal emphasized the plight of farmers in Gujarat, claiming that they are not receiving fair prices for their crops. He accused BJP leaders of taking control of the marketing yards and oppressing farmers. “In the marketing yards of Gujarat, blatant injustice is being done to farmers,” he stated. He vowed that AAP would continue to fight for farmers’ rights both in public spaces and in the legislative assembly.
In a separate tweet, Kejriwal suggested that the police action was intended to silence those advocating for farmers. He remarked, “Under BJP rule, if anyone raises the voice of farmers, they are sent to jail.” Karpada’s only “crime,” according to Kejriwal, was advocating for fair prices for cotton. He asserted that the struggle will continue despite attempts to quell dissent.
Karpada previously highlighted a troubling practice referred to as “Kalda,” wherein farmers transporting cotton to nearby ginning factories were reportedly paid Rs 100–200 less per 20 kg than the agreed price, with middlemen also taking a portion. He claimed this deduction has persisted for a long time, which he had previously exposed, leading to the temporary closure of the marketing yard two years ago.
According to AAP, farmers reported that the practice had resumed within the last ten days, prompting Karpada to mobilize thousands of farmers for a protest on October 10. During the demonstration, the marketing yard chairman assured attendees that the “Kalda” deduction would cease and promised inquiries into trader complaints, but did not provide a written guarantee. Karpada then continued the sit-in with farmers, leading to his arrest around 3 a.m.
Prior to the protest, Karpada used social media to encourage farmers to join him at the Botad yard, stating that the protest aimed to end both the “Kalda” deductions and the requirement for farmers to cover transport costs for their cotton. The protest and Karpada’s subsequent detention have sparked strong reactions from AAP leaders.
