Rajkot, Feb 12 (NationPress) Just a day after stepping down from all roles, Raju Karpada, the former head of the Gujarat Aam Aadmi Party’s farmer wing, made explosive claims against the senior members of the party, accusing them of negligence and internal sabotage.

During a press briefing in Rajkot, Karpada asserted that the party neglected to provide legal support when he and fellow farmers were arrested following a protest in Botad district.

“While I and other farmer activists were incarcerated, the senior leadership was completely inactive. Despite promises that experienced lawyers would represent us in the High Court, not a single lawyer showed up at the initial hearing. It appeared as if the party was attempting to ensnare me rather than offer assistance,” he expressed.

Karpada further claimed that two prominent state leaders intentionally sought to extend his detention, and that notable legislators, including former state president Gopal Italia, did not come to visit him in prison.

“If I disclose everything, many will struggle to respond,” he warned.

He also criticized the internal workings of the party, suggesting that Gopal Italia and AAP General Secretary Manoj Sorathiya were functioning as a “B-team” for the BJP within the organization.

Karpada alleged that certain party members routinely undermined leaders trying to progress within the party.

In connection with a video controversy, he claimed that an old recording of him was edited and released prematurely while he was in jail to tarnish his reputation.

“A video that was supposed to be released later was made public early and manipulated to misrepresent me,” he stated.

Regarding the incident in Hadadad village in Botad district, Karpada expressed disappointment over the invocation of Section 307 of the IPC against him, despite asserting that the protest had met its objectives.

He maintained that while he is “not afraid of legal repercussions, the party’s failure to support him and fellow farmers left them without proper representation.”

Karpada and Pravin Ram were named as the principal accused in a farmers-police confrontation in Hadadad village, with charges including attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, and unlawful assembly filed against them.

The duo spent approximately three-and-a-half months in jail before being granted bail by the Botad District and Sessions Court earlier this month.

Clarifying his political trajectory, Karpada stated he is not aligning with any party currently but intends to continue supporting farmers independently.

“I plan to organize a major farmers’ convention to spotlight their issues. If a ruling party takes positive steps for farmers, I might contemplate joining them in the future,” he noted.

Originally from Dudhai village in Muli taluka of Surendranagar district, Karpada first gained prominence after filing a complaint against a crop insurance company and subsequently led multiple movements concerning land measurement and insurance disputes.

He became part of AAP in 2021-22 and ran in the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections from Chotila, finishing second with 45,937 votes.

His formal resignation from the party on Wednesday could influence AAP’s standing in the Saurashtra region, where the party has been striving to bolster its presence.