Political Storm Brews in Ahmedabad: AAP Leaders Booked for 'Rescue Ops' with NDRF Boat, Vow Protest

A contentious political storm has erupted in Ahmedabad following the booking of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sagar Rabari and several party workers. The group faces charges for allegedly using a government-owned National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) boat without authorization during "rescue operations" at the heavily flooded Visat-Gandhinagar underbridge earlier this week.

In response to what they deem political harassment, the AAP has declared its intention to hold a defiant protest at the very site of the alleged incident.

The dramatic events unfolded on Monday night when Ahmedabad was reeling under the impact of torrential rains, which saw parts of the city receive over five inches of precipitation, leading to widespread waterlogging.

It was during this chaos that Rabari and his team were seen navigating the submerged Visat-Gandhinagar underbridge in a boat, ostensibly to assist citizens stranded by the rising waters. The AAP claims their actions were a genuine attempt to provide aid where the administration had allegedly failed, highlighting the plight of residents amidst the waterlogged infrastructure.

However, the Bopal police viewed the situation differently.

An FIR was subsequently lodged against Rabari and 10-12 unnamed AAP workers, citing sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 447 (criminal trespass) of the Indian Penal Code. According to the police complaint, the AAP members created a "spectacle" at the flooded underbridge, endangering lives, and took control of a government boat without official permission.

Police assert that such unauthorized use of state assets during a disaster response is unlawful and disrupts coordinated relief efforts.

The AAP, however, vehemently refutes these allegations, painting the police action as a politically motivated witch hunt. Sagar Rabari vehemently stated, "We were helping people after heavy rain.

The boat was provided by locals, and it was lying there. The FIR claims we used the boat for rescue operations, but there were no people to rescue at that point; the water had receded enough for the road to be visible. This is simply harassment for trying to help citizens when the government was absent." Rabari argues that the booking serves as a clear indication of the ruling party's discomfort with the AAP's proactive public engagement.

The party maintains that their presence was a necessary intervention due to the perceived lethargy of the local administration in addressing the flood crisis.

They argue that instead of commending their efforts, the authorities have chosen to persecute them, turning a humanitarian act into a legal battle. This narrative sets the stage for the planned protest, where the AAP intends to amplify their message against alleged government negligence and political vendetta.

With tensions mounting, the Aam Aadmi Party has announced a major protest demonstration scheduled for Wednesday morning at the very same Visat-Gandhinagar underbridge.

This planned action is not only to challenge the FIR but also to underscore their commitment to public service and to expose what they describe as the arbitrary misuse of power by the authorities. The incident has thus transformed from a local flood response into a significant political showdown, drawing lines between public activism and official protocols in times of crisis.