AAP MLA Gopal Italia alleges bullying, extortion at Visavadar groundnut centre

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Visavadar, Gopal Italia, has written to the Police Inspector of Visavadar Police Station alleging instances of bullying and extortion at a minimum support price (MSP) groundnut procurement centre in the town.

In his letter, Italia stated that groundnut procurement at MSP is currently underway in Visavadar in accordance with government policy, with three procurement centres functioning in the area. He alleged that farmers selling produce at one of these centres—the Soni Godown procurement centre—have been facing harassment for the past week.

According to the MLA, a person identified as Nanubhai Lakhani from Lathodva village and his associates have been present at the Soni Godown procurement centre throughout the day. Italia alleged that they intimidate farmers arriving to sell groundnuts, threaten to wrongly reject their produce, and extort money from them. He said farmers from various villages brought the matter to his attention through phone calls, personal interactions during public outreach programmes, and by informing members of his team.

Italia further stated that farmers claimed Lakhani and his associates were coming from outside the taluka and occupying the procurement centre while forcibly extorting money. Following these complaints, the MLA said he deputed members of his team, including Hareshbhai Savaliya, Hardevbhai Vikma, Ravibhai Dobariya, and others, to visit the centre at different times to verify the situation and hear farmers’ grievances.

According to the letter, when the team members reached the procurement centre, they allegedly faced aggressive arguments and abusive language from Nanubhai Lakhani and his associates, creating what the MLA described as an atmosphere of fear among farmers.

Italia has urged the police to take immediate action against those allegedly involved in bullying and intimidation at the Soni Godown procurement centre. He also requested that adequate preventive measures be put in place to ensure that no conflict or untoward incident occurs at the centre in the future.