AAP Govt Will Be Formed in Gujarat, the agricultural revolution we brought in Punjab is coming to Gujarat too: Bhagwant Mann
Punjab Newsline, New Delhi/Gujrat-
In a strong solidarity with Gujarat’s farmers and cattle-rearers, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann attended a massive Mahapanchayat in Modasa, ripping into the BJP’s arrogant and corrupt regime in the state. Calling the current government a puppet of the rich, the AAP Chief pointed out that the Prime Minister flies abroad to secure contracts for Adani while unleashing police batons on farmers demanding bonuses at home.
“This is not a government of the people — it is a government for billionaires. The poor and farmers get only lathis,” Arvind Kejriwal said, slamming the BJP for offering no compensation to the family of the cattle-rearer who died in the recent crackdown. “Their arrogance of power will be broken by the fury of the people. The martyrdom of this farmer has already begun their countdown,” Arvind Kejriwal declared. During this, AAP Gujarat Prabhari Gopal Rai, State President Isudan Gadhvi, MLA Gopal Italia, State General Secretary Manoj Sorathiya, and leaders from the Gujarat State unit were also present.
Addressing a massive gathering, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal stated, “Today, the land of Sabarkantha is raising its voice. It is asking for justice. It is demanding its rightful share. It is seeking dignity and respect.”
Referring to the recent events at Sabarkantha Dairy, he said, “Just a few days ago, a deeply painful and tragic incident took place. When a large number of cattle-rearing farmers went to the government to protest and demand their rights, this corrupt, cruel, and merciless government unleashed ‘lathicharge’ on them. Tear gas shells were fired at them. In that police action, one of our poor cattle-rearing farmer brothers, Ashok Chaudhary, lost his life. He is no longer with us.”
Calling the government’s behaviour disgraceful, Arvind Kejriwal continued, “This government is utterly rotten. I came to know about this incident while I was in Delhi — that a farmer had died while protesting. I immediately spoke to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann. Bhagwant Mann is the son of a farmer himself. His family still practices farming in Punjab. Our AAP government in Punjab has done remarkable work for farmers. And as soon as we heard what had happened, without delay, we booked our tickets and came here to meet you and stand in solidarity with you.”
Explaining why the farmers were protesting, the AAP Chief shared, “Their demands were simple — at the end of every financial year, they receive a share of the profit, commonly called ‘nafa’ or bonus. It is their due. Every year, in the month of June, these poor farmers are given their share of the profit — their bonus, their commission. This time too, in June, the Gujarat government declared a 9.5% profit share. But that money hasn’t reached the farmers yet. They haven’t received a single rupee. Normally, by June, the full amount is deposited in their accounts.”
Highlighting the plight of the farming community, he said, “These ‘khedut’ (farmer) brothers are not wealthy people. They are poor. With this money, they buy seeds, purchase fertilisers, pay their children’s school fees, and run their homes. They plan their entire season around that payment. But when June came and they didn’t receive that money, it shook their lives. I looked into past figures — in 2020-21, they were given 16% bonus. In 2021–22, they received 17%. In 2022–23, again 16.5%. In 2023–24, it was back to 17%. And this year — suddenly — just 9.5%. Where did the rest of the money go?”
Posing tough questions to the ruling party, Arvind Kejriwal said, “Where did all the money go? For the last five years, these hardworking farmers were getting 16–17% bonus. This year, only 9.5%? That money has built lavish palaces. It’s sitting in Swiss bank accounts. It’s being blown away on their party's election rallies. These people have looted the money meant for the poor farmer brothers and used it to buy expensive cars, build giant mansions, charter helicopters, and purchase private jets. And all of it — from your pockets.”
Referring to the tragic loss, he said, “Ashok Chaudhary died on 14th July. And even after such a heartbreaking incident, this government refused to listen. Even after his death, they didn’t increase the dairy bonus. Even after such a tragedy, they did not give you your due. They didn’t move. They didn’t budge.”
BJP is trying to intimidate farmers by filing FIRs against them: Mann
During this, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said that dairy farmers had gathered at Sabarkantha’s Sabar Dairy to demand fair prices and a bonus for their milk. Instead of listening to them or engaging in dialogue, the government responded with tear gas shells and bullets—killing a poor farmer in the process. Following the crackdown, 82 people were booked under FIRs in an attempt to instill fear and prevent them from coming together again. “This is the next stage of dictatorship,” Mann said. “But now the AAP is here, and we stand with the people of Gujarat. There are countless FIRs against us too, but let me tell them—your paper will run out, our people will not.”
