Protesting Gujarat Parivartan Party workers detained

Nearly 200 workers of Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) including its general secretary Gordhan Zadaphia were today detained while protesting against state government's failure to provide crop insurance to farmers.
"Nearly 200 workers belonging to GPP were detained and released after three hours," a senior police official said.
The GPP workers gathered at Gondal crossroads, blocked the road and demanded financial aid for farmers, who had suffered heavy loss due to inadequate rains.
"The state government has failed to provide crop insurance to farmers. Many farmers suffered huge crop losses last monsoon because of deficient rains and were under debt and as a result of which, 112 farmers committed suicide in the state," Zadaphia, a former junior home minister in the Modi government, told reporters here.

"Farmers in Gujarat are committing suicide due to shortage of water and fertiliser and the state government is doing nothing but wasting money by organising various mahotsavs," Zadaphia alleged, before being detained.
"The state government should immediately announce financial aid for farmers so that they can purchase fertilisers and other agriculture-related materials," he said.

Zadaphia further claimed that farmers had deposited their premiums with cooperative and nationalised banks in March-April 2012, adding that the state government received information about scarcity in September 2012.
He said that the state government had also declared crop insurance in September 2012 but not a single farmer has received crop insurance till now.

Zadaphia said the party would organise protests in the coming days against the policies of the state government.
GPP was formed by former chief minister Keshubhai Patel ahead of the Assembly elections in December following differences with Modi.