Ahmedabad, June 26 (IANS) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday organised support marches across Gujarat in solidarity with Dediapada MLA Chaitar Vasava, days after he was sentenced to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment by a sessions court in Narmada district in connection with a 2023 case involving the alleged assault of forest department officials, obstruction of public servants and extortion.

The latest demonstrations were part of a statewide campaign announced by AAP on June 24.

Gujarat unit in-charge Gopal Rai had said the party would hold “Support March” foot marches in every district on June 26, followed by marches in all Assembly constituencies on June 28 as part of a three-phase agitation.

“The party would pursue all available legal remedies in the case,” he said.

Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had earlier backed Vasava, alleging that the charges against him were false and politically motivated.

The party claimed that Vasava, “who raised his voice for the tribal community”, had been sent to jail as part of a conspiracy.

On Friday, marches were held in several parts of the state. In Junagadh, the procession was led by MLA Gopal Italia and state organisation secretary Raju Borkhatria.

In Surat, state vice-president Rambhai Dhaduk, state organisation secretary Dharmesh Bhanderi and Surat Lok Sabha in-charge Rajnikant Vaghani led the march.

In Ahmedabad, the programme was attended by state vice-president Gauriben Desai, state organisation secretary Dr Karan Barot, state student wing president Dharmik Mathukiya, state Maldhari cell president Kiran Desai and other party office-bearers.

Similar marches were organised in Bardoli, Sabarkantha, and other areas.

The demonstrations followed the verdict of the Rajpipla sessions court, where Additional Sessions Judge A. V. Hirpara convicted Vasava, his wife Shakuntala Vasava and seven others over an incident that took place on October 30, 2023.

According to the prosecution, forest officials had removed alleged encroachments from government forest land cultivated by local residents in Dediapada.

The officials were later allegedly assaulted and threatened during a meeting convened to discuss the dispute.

Prosecutors also alleged that Vasava fired an unlicensed pistol to intimidate the officials. All nine convicts were sentenced to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 25,000 each.

Following the judgment, Vasava indicated he would challenge the conviction before the Gujarat High Court. The conviction has also triggered questions over Vasava’s membership of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly.

Deputy Speaker Purnesh Modi said the legislator had ceased to be a member of the House following the sentence under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, although the matter could be affected by the outcome of any appeal or stay granted by a higher court.

–IANS

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