People of Gujarat will oust arrogant BJP: Arvind Kejriwal cites Congress' 1990 loss

Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday accused the BJP of oppressing farmers in Gujarat and warned that the party could face the same fate as Congress in the 1980s.

Speaking in a video on X, the Aam Aadmi Party chief drew a direct comparison with the 1985 Gujarat elections, when Congress, despite winning 149 out of 182 seats, faced popular backlash after suppressing a farmers’ movement.

“A LESSON FROM HISTORY”

Kejriwal in the video said, “In 1985, the Congress party won 149 out of 182 seats. The Congress became arrogant. In 1987, a farmers’ movement took place. The Congress suppressed it, and the people of Gujarat uprooted and threw out the Congress in the next election. For the past 30 years, the BJP has been in power in Gujarat. They too have now become extremely arrogant. The way they have started suppressing the farmers, the people of Gujarat will uproot and throw out the BJP in the next election as well.”

FARMERS’ DEMANDS IGNORED

Kejriwal highlighted the issues raised by farmers in Botad district’s Hadad village on 12 October. Farmers had organised a mahapanchayat to demand an end to the “karda pratha,” under which traders allegedly pay the correct price for only part of the crop and undervalue the rest.

The second demand concerned the APMC mandis: farmers want traders to purchase their produce directly at the mandi, rather than sending them to distant factories or warehouses, which forces farmers to bear transport costs.

POLICE ACTION AND ARRESTS

Kejriwal condemned the state government for using force against unarmed farmers during the mahapanchayat. According to him, the BJP government carried out baton charges and fired tear gas, filing FIRs against 85 farmers, with some charged under attempt-to-murder provisions. He warned that what happened to those 85 farmers could happen to many others if they do not unite.

CALL FOR FARMER UNITY

Addressing Gujarat’s farmers, Kejriwal said, “All farmers should unite and raise their demands together. The BJP has ruled Gujarat for 30 years. Their arrogance has reached its peak. Now it is time for the people of Gujarat to uproot this government. Don’t be arrogant, because arrogance never succeeds. The cries of poor farmers will not spare you.”

- Ends

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