8-hr nightmare for people Kadu’s agitation causes massive traffic chaos on Wardha Rd

 

 

Thousands of vehicles remained stuck on Wardha road due to the farmer’s agitation led by Bachchu Kadu of Prahar Janshakti Party on Tuesday evening. He had given a call to farmers for MahaElgar rally that started from Bellora in Amravati two days ago, who reached Nagpur from Wardha on Tuesday. Divyangs in large number too participated in the agitation. Former MLA Bachchu Kadu took out a tractor march in Maharashtra’s Amravati district, demanding a complete loan waiver for farmers in the State. The rally was granted permission upto Parsodi at Wardha Road. It was expected that it would reach Parsodi by 12 noon where about 3,000 farmers stood Contd from page 1 to welcome to their leader. A stage was erected on the ground. The rally moved slowly, taking stoppage at Butibori, Dongargaon and reached near Jamtha bridge. Instead of moving to a huge ground at Parsodi, Kadu decided to hold a public meeting on the road under Jamtha bridge.

 

The road at the venue is not wide enough to accomodate the agitators and the they gathered at the place where a meeting venue was created. This led to stalling of vehicular movement. Before Kadu reached the venue, his followers began ‘Rasta Roko’ agitation and parked vehicles and tractors in the middle of the road. Hundreds of workers laid siege to the traffic movement. The vehicular movement on both sides of the meeting venue came to a standstill. About 50 passenger buses--private and State-run with at least 30 passengers in each, were not able to move from 4 pm to the time this report was filed (9.30 pm).

 

Apart from the buses, some individual travellers including children, women, senior citizens seated in their cars were waiting to get traffic free. They found themselves helpless but there was no sign of relief after passage of four hours. A family who brought their child for treatment to Nagpur, were on their way to Chandrapur and were stuck in the jam. The child lay in the car writhing in pain. One of the city buses going to Warnaga too stood in the middle of the jam, some of the passengers of the bus chose to walk to their homes. In the meeting that was held near Jamtha bridge, Bachchu Kadu warned the Government that the stir would be intensified to the extent that if the loan waiver to farmers is not given, people would stop trains running on the nearby railway track. Along with Bachchu Kadu, the other leaders seated on the stage include ex-MP Raju Shetty, ex-MLA Wamanrao Chatap, ex-MLC Mahadevrao Jankar, Ravikant Tupkar, Dr Ajit Navale, Prakash Pohare, Vijay Jawandhiya and others. Alleging that Government tried to foil the agitation when Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule invited him for the meeting at Mumbai, Kadu said, “Nobody should fall prey to false promises to end this agitation.

 

We did not bow before the Government as we rejected an invitation from the Chief Minister’s office for a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Revenue Minister, and others.” He warned that the agitation would not be called off on the promise of talks and made it clear that the agitators will not leave until the Government announces to provide a complete loan waiver to farmers. Farmers asserted that they will not withdraw unless the Government gives written assurances. “If our demands are ignored, a Maharashtra bandh cannot be ruled out tomorrow,” Kadu, a former MLA, warned. Accusing Government of neglect and casual approach towards farmers, Kadu questioned the time of meeting. According to him, meeting should have been called earlier. He took assurance from people that they won’t go out to take their meals. 

 

 

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule expressed displeasure at their absence. “The government arranged this meeting because it understands the farmers’ situation. The Chief Minister, both Deputy Chief Ministers, the Chief Secretary and Cabinet members waited for over an hour. Agitators could have at least sent representatives.” 

 

 

Police in view of a massive protest announced by Bachchu Kadu, had issued a diversion plan for Wardha Road. Unfortunately people failed to notice the same. Due to the possibility of traffic disruption, Police team led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Rashmita Rao, Police Inspector Narendra Hiware stayed at the chowki near CICR for the last 10 days to prevent disruption. But Kadu changed his plan and chose narrow area on Wardha road. On Tuesday night, Commissioner of Police Ravinder Singal himself was present trying to take measures to clear the traffic. But the vehicles were stuck in such a manner that it was impossible till late night to move. Officials estimated around 20,000 protestors. Some vehicles coming from Samruddhi Mahamarg chose to take road to Hingna and from there reached Nagpur. 

 

 

Taking note of the fear of the Maha Elgar protest of former minister Bachchu Kadu, who has become aggressive for loan waiver fee, and other major demands, a curfew-like situation was seen in front of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' official residence Ramgiri. Walkers Street, which bustles every evening, has been completely closed to traffic. The police have put up barricades on all the roads leading to the venue and traffic has been completely stopped. Along with this, after receiving a tip-off that the protesters may go to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh headquarters, Mahal and Reshimbag, the police have increased the security at both these places.