Several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders marched to the Visavadar police station in Junagadh district and voluntarily courted arrest in protest against what the party described as a “false FIR” registered against its workers.
AAP leaders Hareshbhai Savaliya, Ravibhai Dobariya and Bhadreshbhai Babariya participated in the protest, accompanied by drumbeats. AAP MLA Gopal Italia was also present along with a large number of farmers and party supporters.
During the protest, MLA Gopal Italia was seen questioning a woman police officer while seated on his knees.
Addressing the media, Italia said the protest was linked to alleged irregularities at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement centre in Visavadar.
Italia claimed that farmers from multiple villages had approached AAP leaders several days ago, alleging that they were being threatened at the procurement centre and asked to pay money, failing which their produce was rejected. He said he had first raised the issue with the Visavadar Prant Officer, followed by calls to the Resident Collector, and that other party leaders also contacted district officials and the Agriculture Officer. According to Italia, no action had been taken on these complaints.
He further claimed that he had contacted the CEO of Indigo, the company involved in MSP procurement, to report alleged misconduct by staff at the centre. Italia said a written complaint naming individuals accused of threatening farmers was submitted to the police, but no action had been taken so far.
According to Italia, a fresh complaint of alleged demand for money at the procurement centre emerged recently, following which a farmer approached the Aam Aadmi Party for help. He alleged that when party workers went to the procurement centre, the police registered cases of molestation against Hareshbhai Savaliya, Ravibhai Dobariya and Bhadreshbhai Babariya.
Italia denied the allegations, stating that party workers had gone to assist farmers and not to harass anyone. He alleged that despite submitting complaints and video evidence, the police had refused to take action on the farmers’ grievances.
Drawing parallels with earlier incidents, Italia claimed that similar cases had been filed against individuals who raised complaints on behalf of farmers in other parts of the state. He alleged misuse of legal provisions, including the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and said such actions could undermine the intent of the law.
Italia also questioned the speed with which the FIR was registered against AAP leaders, alleging that while complaints from farmers and opposition leaders were not acted upon, cases were filed swiftly against those raising the issue.
At the time of filing this report, the police and the state government had not issued an official response to the allegations made by the AAP MLA.