AAP Leader Raju Karpra Arrested by Gujarat Police During Farmers’ Protest

National News: Raju Karpra, the state head of the Aam Aadmi Party’s Farmer Cell and a prominent farmer leader, has once again grabbed headlines by exposing a long-standing scam at the Botad Marketing Yard. In a recent video, he revealed that farmers have been systematically exploited for years through unfair deductions, known locally as “Kalda,” highlighting ongoing injustice in cotton trade practices at the yard.

Unfair Practices at the Yard

At the Botad Marketing Yard, there is a peculiar system. After the bidding process, the trader often tells the farmer, “Our ginning factory is 10–15 km away; take the cotton there.” When the farmer delivers the cotton at his own expense, the person at the factory claims the quality is poor and pays 100–200 rupees less. Sometimes, if the agreed price was 1,500 rupees, they would pay only 1,100–1,200 rupees. Middlemen also take their share. This unfair deduction is called “Kalda.” Two years ago, after farmers’ complaints, Raju Karpra and his team temporarily shut down the yard for a few hours. Later, under the pretext of “solving the issue,” they were arrested, but the farmers continued their protest and kept the yard closed.

रात के ३ बजे अंधेरे में गुजरात के किशान नेता भाई @RajubhaiKarpad1 जी को भाजपा की पुलिस धरना स्थल से उठा के ले गई।
सत्ता के नशे में भाजपा की बुद्धि भ्रष्ट हो गई है। गुजरात की जनता भाजपा को माफ नहीं करेगी। pic.twitter.com/IsojI4knnF

— Manoj Sorathiya (@manoj_sorathiya) October 10, 2025

New Complaints from Farmers

In the past ten days, farmers have reported that the same “Kalda” deductions have started again. On the morning of October 9, Raju Karpra posted on Facebook that he and the farmers would visit Botad Yard on October 10. Following this, APMC officials called a meeting and assured the media that “Kalda” would no longer happen. The two main issues were: the ongoing “Kalda” practice and traders asking farmers to take their cotton to factories far away. Today, farmers raised their voice against this unfair practice.

Protest at the Marketing Yard

When Raju Karpra arrived with thousands of farmers, the yard chairman publicly declared, “From now on, no ‘Kalda’ will be applied. Farmers will receive the prices that were promised. If there is any complaint against a trader, we will investigate and cancel their license within two days.” Raju Karpra requested this statement in writing, but the chairman refused. Because of this, Raju Karpra and thousands of farmers continued their sit-in protest.

भाजपा के राज में अगर कोई किसानों की आवाज़ उठाए, तो उसे जेल भेज दिया जाता है।

रात के 3 बजे आम आदमी पार्टी के किसान नेता @RajubhaiKarpad1 को पुलिस ने गिरफ़्तार कर लिया, उनका कुसूर सिर्फ इतना था कि वो किसानों के हक़ की लड़ाई लड़ रहे थे, कपास का सही दाम मांग रहे थे।

गुजरात में जो… https://t.co/AScw1ixeLf

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 11, 2025

Arrest and National Response

AAP national leader Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, highlighting that farmers in Gujarat’s marketing yards face injustice. He said, “Farmers are not getting fair prices for their hard work. BJP leaders have taken control of these yards and harass farmers.” When no concrete action was taken, Raju Karpra continued the protest with the farmers. Late last night, around 3 a.m., Gujarat police arrested him. Kejriwal commented on the arrest, saying, “Under BJP rule, anyone raising farmers’ voices is sent to jail. Raju Karpra was arrested at 3 a.m. just for fighting for farmers’ rights and fair cotton prices. In Gujarat, BJP may try to suppress voices, but the truth cannot be locked up. Farmers’ fight will not stop.”

गुजरात के मार्केटिंग यार्डों में किसानों के साथ खुला अन्याय हो रहा है। मेहनत से उगाई फ़सल का सही दाम नहीं मिल रहा, उल्टा भाजपा नेताओं ने यार्डों पर कब्ज़ा कर किसानों को परेशान कर रखा है।

बोटाद यार्ड में किसानों के हक़ की लड़ाई के लिए आम आदमी पार्टी के नेता राजूभाई करपड़ा जी… pic.twitter.com/eZE9TbXZPa

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 10, 2025