The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has raised concerns about a series of arrests targeting its workers in Gujarat before the local body elections. AAP’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has written to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, alleging a deliberate strategy to undermine the party. Kejriwal highlighted that over 160 party members have been detained in the last three months, with a recent surge in arrests.
Kejriwal linked these arrests to the upcoming civic polls, suggesting a coordinated effort by the Gujarat Police to influence the election outcome. He pointed out a consistent pattern where AAP workers were stopped by unidentified individuals on the road, leading to their subsequent arrest on serious charges. Incidents in Khambhalia, Porbandar, and Jamnagar were cited as examples of this trend.
The AAP leader expressed concern that the police actions seemed biased, with party workers being targeted while those provoking the confrontations faced no consequences. Kejriwal also alleged that the police had been intimidating party members by visiting their homes and issuing threats. He warned of potential plans to detain more workers, potentially impacting the party’s ability to field candidates in the elections.
Kejriwal has requested a meeting with CM Patel to address these issues, seeking to discuss the situation along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. This appeal comes on the heels of the detention and subsequent release of state party president Isudan Gadhvi by the police. Gadhvi was held after attempting to submit a representation regarding the arrests of party workers, highlighting a growing tension between AAP and the authorities in Gujarat.
