Arvind Kejriwal, the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party, delivered a strong message to his party workers in Gujarat on Sunday. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of governing the state through fear and corruption. Kejriwal spoke at an AAP convention held in Loderiyal village, Sanand.
Kejriwal's Call to Overcome Fear
Kejriwal directly addressed the BJP's long rule in Gujarat. He stated that the BJP has controlled the state for three decades using fear and corrupt practices. Now, he emphasized, it is time for people to shed that fear. He specifically mentioned the threat of imprisonment as a tool used by the ruling party.
"They scare people with jail," Kejriwal told the gathered party leaders and workers. "They can only send you to jail, they cannot strangulate you. There is no need to be scared of jail."
Personal and Party Examples of Incarceration
Kejriwal shared his own experience to bolster his point. He revealed that he himself spent six months in jail. He said the BJP had imprisoned him. He urged his supporters not to fear similar treatment.
The AAP chief also cited several other cases. He mentioned Gujarat AAP leaders Pravin Ram and Raju Karpada, who are currently in jail. He noted Chaitar Vasava, who has faced multiple imprisonments under the BJP government. Kejriwal expressed confidence that Ram and Karpada would be released soon.
He extended his examples to national AAP figures. Leaders like Sanjay Singh, Satyender Jain, and Manish Sisodia have also faced jail time in Delhi. Kejriwal insisted these were false cases. The intention, he claimed, was to break the AAP by jailing its top leaders.
"We did not commit theft. False cases were imposed on us," Kejriwal asserted. "AAP has not broken down and it will now bring a change of power in Gujarat."
Warning Ahead of Elections
Looking toward the upcoming Assembly elections, Kejriwal issued a warning. He predicted that the ruling BJP would deploy agencies like the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation, and the police to imprison opponents. His solution was collective courage.
"If all of us are ready to go to jail, nobody can stop the change of power in Gujarat," he declared.
Last-Minute Venue Change Sparks Allegations
The convention itself was not without controversy. It was originally scheduled for a private party plot in the Nikol area of Ahmedabad. However, the venue was shifted to the farm in Sanand at the last minute.
AAP Blames BJP Pressure
AAP leaders alleged political interference caused the change. At a press conference, AAP MLA Gopal Italia claimed the ruling BJP pressured the plot owner to withdraw permission. A party release quoted Italia detailing the preparations.
"All preparations for this programme in Nikol were completed nearly 20 to 25 days in advance," the statement said. "A private party plot was booked, the police were informed, and all arrangements were finalised. However, at the last moment, due to threats and pressure exerted by BJP members on the owner, the programme was forced to be cancelled."
Karan Barot, the chief spokesperson for Gujarat AAP, confirmed the owner withdrew permission for the event. Gujarat BJP president Jagdish Vishvakarma is the MLA from the Nikol constituency, adding context to the allegation.
BJP's Response
When confronted with these allegations, the Gujarat BJP chose not to engage. Party spokesperson Anil Patel simply stated, "We are not reacting to AAP."
Convention Attendance
The event saw participation from key Gujarat AAP figures. Top leaders present included Gopal Rai, Isudan Gadhvi, Sagar Rabari, Manoj Sorathiya, and Gopal Italia. Their presence underscored the party's focus on mobilizing support in the state.
Kejriwal's speech framed the political battle in Gujarat as one against fear. He positioned his party as ready to face incarceration to achieve its goal of changing the government. The venue change dispute further fueled the narrative of political pressure, which AAP hopes will galvanize its workers and supporters across Gujarat.
