Ahmedabad, Jun 24 (PTI) The Aam Aadmi Party will stage protests across Gujarat in three phases against the conviction and seven-year jail sentence handed to its MLA, Chaitar Vasava, alleging that the case registered against him was politically motivated and aimed at silencing opposition voices.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi, AAP’s Gujarat affairs in-charge, Gopal Rai, accused the BJP of attempting to suppress opposition parties and weaken democratic institutions across the country.
Rai claimed that Gujarat had witnessed a “new chapter” of such actions with the sentencing of Vasava, the MLA from Dediapada, in what he described as a “false case” because the tribal leader refused to bow to BJP pressure.
A sessions court here on Tuesday sentenced Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Chaitar Vasava, his wife and seven others to seven years’ imprisonment in a November 2023 case of assaulting forest officials and extortion.
After the verdict, Gujarat Deputy Assembly Speaker Purnesh Modi said that Vasava has ceased to be a legislator and his seat is now deemed vacant, citing the provisions of the Representation of the People Act.
Referring to the conviction of Vasava’s wife in the same case, Rai alleged that despite recently giving birth, she was sent to jail, describing the move as the “height of cruelty” under BJP rule.
According to Rai, Vasava was targeted for fighting for tribal rights, and AAP had secured a majority in the Narmada District Panchayat elections.
“The people of Gujarat will definitely respond to this,” Rai said.
He said the protest campaign will be launched in three phases, beginning with morchas to be organised on June 26 at all district headquarters.
“Similar marches will be organised across all 182 assembly constituencies on June 28, followed by demonstrations at around 1,000 locations covering civic wards on June 30,” Rai added.
The AAP leader said the movement is no longer limited to Vasava or the tribal community and would evolve into a broader struggle against what he termed oppression in Gujarat.
Meanwhile, AAP state organisation general secretary Manoj Sorathia and state organisation secretary Niranjan Vasava addressed party workers and the media in Dediapada, questioning the judicial process that led to the conviction.
Sorathia alleged that the case against Vasava and the other accused was driven by political vendetta.
He claimed that while criminal trials often take years to conclude, proceedings in this case moved unusually quickly, raising concerns about the process.
Sorathia further alleged that the testimony of witnesses was recorded through video conferencing and that efforts were made to curtail the rights of the accused during the trial.
He also questioned why all the accused received identical sentences despite their alleged roles differing.
“This raises several questions and strengthens doubts about the entire process,” he added.
Describing Vasava as a popular tribal leader, Sorathia alleged that repeated attempts were being made to send him to jail because he had consistently opposed the BJP’s policies and its “anti-tribal mentality”.
“If you put one Chaitar Vasava in jail, a hundred Chaitar Vasavas will emerge from among the people of Gujarat,” Sorathia added. PTI PJT NSK
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