The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday alleged that its Gujarat state president Isudan Gadhvi was detained by police in Khambhalia, with the party accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating action against its leaders and workers.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Gujarat in-charge Gopal Rai said that Gadhvi was taken into custody when he visited a police station to meet a party worker who had been detained a day earlier. According to Rai, the worker was picked up by police without a clear reason and kept at the police station.
Rai said that when Gadhvi went to meet the worker, police did not allow the meeting and instead detained him. He added that other AAP workers present at the police station were also taken into custody.
The AAP leader raised questions over the circumstances of the detention, stating that when a public representative goes to meet a party worker and is himself detained, it raises concerns. He alleged that the action was carried out under political pressure.
Rai further claimed that this incident is part of a broader pattern of police action against AAP leaders and workers across Gujarat. He said that from the arrest of MLA Chaitar Vasava to the detention of Gadhvi, the number of such actions has been increasing “morning and evening, day and night.” According to him, around 162 instances of police action have been recorded so far against AAP leaders and workers, with some being detained, allegedly subjected to harassment, and sent to jail.
He also referred to the political context in the state, stating that the BJP has been in power in Gujarat for nearly 30 years and had weakened the Congress as a political opposition. Rai alleged that the absence of a strong opposition had led to a rise in the ruling party’s confidence, but the emergence of AAP as an electoral force has changed the situation.
Referring to the Assembly elections, Rai said that despite the BJP deploying its full organisational and governmental machinery, AAP managed to secure electoral success with support from voters, including farmers and other sections of society. He claimed that this has led to concern within the BJP as AAP positions itself as a voice for groups such as farmers, tribal communities, Dalits, women, youth, students, and those associated with animal husbandry.
Rai alleged that when Chaitar Vasava raised issues related to alleged corruption involving the government and ministers, he was booked in cases, arrested, and jailed for around three months.
He also cited protests in Botad related to agricultural pricing practices, stating that when AAP raised the issue in support of farmers, around 85 farmers were detained and jailed. He added that several leaders remained in jail for more than four-and-a-half months in connection with the matter.
Rai further raised concerns about drug-related issues in Gujarat, alleging that narcotics are affecting youth and students. Referring to recent reports, he mentioned claims made in the Assembly that large quantities of seized drugs were destroyed or lost, including an instance where it was said that drugs were consumed by rats. He also cited a reported case from Surendranagar involving the disappearance of 29 kilograms of opium, alleging that such substances ultimately reach young people.
On illegal liquor trade, Rai referred to an incident in Kutch involving AAP district president Dr. Kainat Ansari, who, according to him, raised her voice against such activities and conducted a raid after informing police. He alleged that while no action was taken against those running the illegal trade, Ansari was jailed.
He also mentioned AAP youth leader Brijraj Solanki, stating that he was detained while travelling to Surat to raise issues related to drugs.
Rai said that AAP is positioning itself as a voice for various sections of society in Gujarat and claimed that the party is working on issues concerning farmers, tribal communities, youth, students, and other groups. He alleged that such actions against party leaders and workers reflect political pressure as local self-government elections approach.
He added that the situation reflects an intensifying political contest in the state, with AAP continuing its activities despite police action against its members.