Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sharply criticised the Gujarat government on Wednesday, calling its actions a “blatant display of dictatorship” after he was stopped from meeting farmers and farmer leaders lodged in Rajkot jail.
At a press conference in Rajkot, Kejriwal said he had planned to visit the jail to meet those imprisoned but was deliberately prevented from doing so. “What could be more dictatorial than this? Am I a terrorist?” he asked, emphasising that those detained were farmers and not criminals.
Kejriwal said he had sought permission the previous day but was informed in the morning that he was “not allowed to meet” the jailed farmers. Drawing a historical comparison, he added, “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 more cruel and tyrannical than the British?”
He pointed out that 54 lakh farming families in Gujarat rely on agriculture but continue to face acute hardship — from shortages of seeds and long queues for fertiliser to an absence of fair crop prices.
According to Kejriwal, farmers strike deals at ₹1500 but are forced to settle for ₹1200. He said that when farmers united against this price-cutting practice, the state government resorted to a brutal lathi-charge and arrested 88 peaceful protesters.
Kejriwal alleged that police deliberately skipped court hearings on bail dates “to break the farmers’ morale.” Of the 88 arrested, 42 have secured bail. He said he met families of those jailed and recently released, adding, “Their stories would move anyone to tears.” He also claimed that farmers in custody were denied water for 24 hours, given no food, and beaten. “What does the BJP want? Fear God,” he said, while saluting the families who met him despite “tremendous pressure” not to do so. “I want to say only this — one day, the people of Gujarat will rise against government.”
Kejriwal widened his criticism to the education sector, alleging that farmers often take loans to send their children to cities like Ahmedabad and Surat for coaching, only to experience exam paper leaks just before tests. “We have seen children crying helplessly,” he said, claiming “their own people” are behind the leaks. He further alleged that drugs are being openly circulated across Gujarat to ensure young people do not raise their voice. “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,” he said.
He also said he learned that farms belonging to arrested farmers and their children were ploughed collectively by villagers. Making a sharp remark on governance, he added, “Two things are openly sold in Gujarat today — drugs, and potholes on the roads. This is what they have reduced Gujarat to after 30 years. Now it’s time to end this.”
Kejriwal claimed that for years people felt they had no alternative because the Congress and BJP were “hand in glove.” “Congress never wanted BJP to lose power in Gujarat. But now people have an option, and Aam Aadmi Party is being discussed in every household,” he said. He added that people look to leaders like Gopal Italia, Isudan Gadhvi, Raju Karpara, Pravin Ram, Chaitar Vasava and Manoj Sorathiya with hope. “Tell me one BJP leader who gives hope to the people of Gujarat,” he challenged. “When our leaders speak, people listen. Name one leader from BJP or Congress whom people believe can fix Gujarat.”
Addressing the people directly, Kejriwal said, “You will have to save Gujarat. You will have to overcome fear and stand up.” He alleged that FIRs are being used as tools of intimidation. “I myself spent six months in jail. They may jail you too, but I take responsibility — for every false FIR filed against anyone, we will fight. And two years from now when the government changes, within 24 hours all false FIRs will be withdrawn. After that, the ministers who oppressed the people of Gujarat will be sent to jail.”
He questioned the government over the massive drug seizures at Mundra Port, asking who the real culprits were and what happened to shipments that were never intercepted. According to Kejriwal, drugs are easily accessible across the state, pushing youth into darkness, and such a situation would not be possible without official collusion.
Referring to AAP’s governance in Punjab, he said that when the party took power, drugs were widespread across towns and villages. “Today, under our government, bulldozers are demolishing the homes of drug peddlers, and over 25,000 drug dealers have been arrested.” He said AAP took such action because “its intentions are honest,” questioning why similar steps were not taken in Gujarat. Kejriwal also alleged that those involved in selling spurious liquor are not being caught “because they are hand-in-glove with the ruling system.”
