Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday accused the BJP-led government in Gujarat of carrying out a targeted political crackdown, alleging widespread arrests of party workers and the filing of numerous FIRs. He described the situation as indicative of a “dictatorship” in the state.
In a post on X, Kejriwal claimed that around 145 FIRs had been registered against AAP workers over the past three months, while more than 160 members of the party had been taken into custody during this period. He suggested that these actions were part of a deliberate attempt to suppress the party’s growing presence in Gujarat.
The statement followed a separate claim by AAP that its workers had gathered at a police station to protest what they termed the “illegal arrest” of one of their colleagues. According to the party, during this protest, Gujarat AAP chief Isudan Gadhvi was also detained by the police. AAP alleged that such actions reflected the BJP’s anxiety over the party’s increasing popularity in the state.
Kejriwal reiterated these concerns, asserting that Gadhvi’s detention was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of action against AAP leaders and supporters. He accused the BJP of being unsettled by the possibility of electoral defeat in Gujarat and resorting to oppressive measures in response.
He further warned of public backlash, stating that the people of Gujarat would respond to what he described as arrogance and repression by the ruling party, and that such actions would not go unchallenged.
The allegations have intensified the ongoing political friction between AAP and the BJP in Gujarat, where AAP has been working to strengthen its organisational base and expand its influence beyond its established regions. At the time of these claims, there was no official response from either the BJP or the Gujarat Police regarding the accusations made by the AAP leadership.
These developments come amid increased political activity by AAP across multiple states, as it aims to position itself as a significant challenger to the BJP on a broader national stage.
