Agitating farmers relent, clear Wardha Rd Threaten ‘Rail Roko’ on October 31, if demands remained unfulfilled

 

 

The farmers led by Prahar Janshakti Party leader Bachchu Kadu, agitating for more than 36 hours on Wardha Road, decided to continue their protest, but vacated the road. Finally, on late Wednesday night, the traffic resumed on the Nagpur-Hyderabad stretch of the national highway as agitators moved to Parsodi ground. Kadu told mediapersons that he would go to Mumbai, talk to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the demands, including complete loan waiver to farmers. If the demands are not fulfilled, the protest will be registered through ‘Rail Roko’ on October 31.

 

Kadu has been accompanied by ex-MP Raju Shetty, Dr Ajit Navale, ex-MLA Wamanrao Chatap, ex-MLC Mahadeorao Jankar, Prakash Pohare and others. On Tuesday, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) Wardha MP Amar Kale, Salil Deshmukh, State General Secretary Avinash Gotmare, District Working President Kishor Belsare, City President Duneshwar Pethe, Youth leader Shailendra Tiwari and others were part of the stir. Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had visited the venue and extended support to the agitation. Kadu remained in the tent at the Parsodi ground near CICR. Since the agitators led by Bachchu Kadu and his Prahar Janshakti Party continued the Contd from page 1 stir to press the demand for loan waiver to farmers, people kept suffering from traffic jam on the second day. The agitators parked buses, trucks in the middle of the road in horizontal position so that no vehicular movement could take place.

 

Due to traffic-jam, vehicles had to take different routes, several cancelled their journey. Meanwhile, Maratha leader Manoj Jarange-Patil expressed to join the agitation. Before he could reach, the agitation was put on hold for some time. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had appealed to Kadu to discuss farmers’ issues with the Government. He had requested the Prahar Janshakti Party leader that, instead of holding agitation and causing inconvenience to the public, the issues could be resolved through talks. Accordingly, Minister of State Ashish Jaiswal and Dr Pankaj Bhoyar accompanied by District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar reached the spot. They stopped near Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR) near Parsodi. After staying near Jamtha bridge for more than 24 hours, some of the agitators tried to climb on rail track responding to Kadu’s call on Tuesday night of holding ‘Rail Roko’. Fortunately, not many reached the track. By early night, the agitators started approaching Parsodi ground near CICR where they were permitted to hold demonstrations.

 

They didn’t move their vehicles and challenged police to arrest them. Large police force was deployed near CICR. Commissioner of Police Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal is constantly monitoring the situation and giving instructions to his people. Deputy Commissioner of Police Shashikant Satav, DCP Rashmita Rao, ACP Narendra Hiware and others kept track on the situation. 

  

 

 

Justice Rajnish R Vyas at the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court, on Wednesday, took suo motu cognisance of the massive traffic congestion caused by former MLA Omprakash alias Bachchu Kadu and thousands of his supporters during their protest on National Highway No. 44 (Wardha Road). The agitation, part of the ‘Maha Elgar Morcha’ demanding a complete farm loan waiver, brought Nagpur’s main route to a standstill on Tuesday which caused serious inconvenience to the public. Justice Vyas said, the issue came to his notice through reports published in The Hitavada (City Line), dated October 29, 2025.

 

The court observed that the news items highlighted how more than 10,000 protestors blocked the national highway, leading to a 20-kilometre-long traffic-jam. Even ambulances and police vehicles were unable to move, affecting access to important facilities such as Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport and National Cancer Institute. In his strongly worded order, Justice Vyas remarked that while the right to protest is protected under the Constitution, blocking public roads and highways violates the fundamental right of citizens to free movement. He stressed that the judiciary must take a proactive role in protecting citizens’ rights during such situations. During the hearing, Senior Counsel and Government Pleader D V Chavan, assisted by AGP N S Rao, represented the State.

 

The court directed the Registry to verify whether Kadu had obtained prior permission for the protest. The Registry and the office of the Government Pleader produced an order dated October 26, 2025, issued by Senior Police Inspector, Police Station Beltarodi, under Sections 33(1) and 36 of the Bombay Police Act. The permission, marked as Document X, allowed Bachchu Kadu to hold an agitation on October 28, 2025, at Mouza Parsodi, Survey No. 81, near Cotton Research Centre, Nagpur, from 11 am onwards. However, the court noted that despite the permission being valid for only one day, the agitation continued beyond the permitted time and place and causing widespread disruption. Justice Vyas stated that schools, Suretech Hospital, and several other vital establishments are located along the same stretch, and the continued blockade severely affected citizens. Referring to an earlier PIL ruling by the Bombay High Court (PIL No 25656/2025, dated September 1, 2025), the judge emphasised that public streets and parks exist primarily for public use, and freedom of assembly must be regulated to protect social interests. In a series of directions issued to control the situation, the High Court ordered: n Bachchu Kadu and his supporters must immediately vacate Wardha Road and all other blocked streets.

 

The removal must be peaceful and without disturbing law and order. n Any damage to public property caused by protestors will invite stern legal action. n If the protestors fail to withdraw, the Commissioner of Police, Nagpur, the Superintendent of Police, and the Additional Director General of Police (Highway Traffic) must clear the roads and restore traffic by 6 pm on October 29. n The police must file a compliance report in the High Court by 11 am on October 30. n Protestors who defied the permission order dated October 26 will face appropriate action under the law. The court further clarified that if the protest involved senior citizens, women, children, or differently-abled persons, they should be removed with dignity and care. The court will review compliance of its directions on October 30 at 11 am.

 

 

While the right to protest is protected under the Constitution, blocking public roads and highways violates the fundamental right of citizens to free movement - Justice Rajnish Vyas

 

Schools, colleges on Wardha Road decided to declare holiday. For last two days, the nearby educational institutions asked students not to come as the agitation by Bachchu Kadu continued. A professor with St Vincent Pallotti College said, “For the last two days, we had decided not to put students’ life at risk. Several of our students travel by Metro and our vehicles pick them from the station. Had the agitation not ended, we had planned to hold on-line classes for the students.” 

 

 

Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation Limited (MSRTC) suffered a huge loss as only 50% passengers used ST buses on Wednesday due to ongoing farmer’s agitation led by Bachchu Kadu of Prahar Janshakti Party on Wardha Road. MSRTC cancelled total 127 buses coming from various directions to Nagpur on the second day of the agitation. Rakesh Ramteke, Assistant Traffic Superintendent, MSRTC told ‘The Hitavada’ that, 12 buses had been stuck since Tuesday, which reached their destination at 4 pm on MSRTC loses 50% passengers, cancels 127 buses Wednesday after intervention of city police. Hundreds of vehicles still remained stuck on Wardha Road due to the agitation, which is now causing outrage among commuters and passengers. The users of ST buses were also among them who spent their night in ST bus on Tuesday.

 

Due to the agitation, the MSRTC management has changed routes of many buses to avoid Wardha Road. Buses plying on Wardha-Yavatmal, Hinganghat-Pandharkawda, and Nagpur-Chandrapur routes were diverted on Wednesday. Buses on Wardha-Yavatmal route, are now plying through Hinganghat, Selu and Wardha. Buses on Hinganghat-Pandharkawda route, are plying through Umred, Sirsi, Girad, Samudrapur, Jam and Hinganghat. Whereas Umred, Chimur, Warora, Chandrapur is the new route for Chandrapur-Nagpur route buses. On Hinganghat route, total 30 buses were cancelled (Nagpur - 11 buses, Yavatmal - 4, Wardha - 15). On Yavatmal route, 60 buses were cancelled (Nagpur - 11, Yavatmal - 18, Wardha - 4, Nanded - 15, Parbhani - 1, Bhandara - 11); and 37 buses were cancelled on Chandrapur route, including Nagpur (10), Chandrapur (20) and Yavatmal (7).

 

 

The farmers protest rally led by former MLA Bachchu Kadu had severely disrupted truck movement in the Butibori Industrial estate and CONCOR Inland Container Depot (ICD), MIHAN halting exim (export-import) trade. The agitation has resulted in an estimated loss of over Rs 100 crore. Starting October 28, the protests, part of the ‘Maha Elgar Rally,’ have paralysed movement on the crucial Nagpur–Hyderabad national highway, which is a key corridor for goods coming from the Butibori Industrial hub. More 20,000 farmers from all over Maharashtra joined the rally which caused heavy traffic congestion and considerable delays. According to sources, on an average, daily 300 to 400 trucks move in and out of Butibori Industrial Estate.

 

Similarly, CONCORD, ICD handles more than 100 containers daily. The farmers protest rally has affected more than 800-1,000 trucks on October 28 and 29. Sources in EXIM trade said, containers after loading had to wait for long hours attract halting charges by transporters. Also, long delay in container movement over free time, attracts detention charges by shipping lines of USD 110 per day. Accordingly, if a container misses its scheduled vessel or ship at the port, another vessel has to be booked on the spot that usually attracts higher charges. Rajkumar Gupta, Executive Member of Butibori Manufacturers Association (BMA) said, the farmers protest agitation has affected hundreds of industries which are stairing at huge losses due to halt in truck movement. There is delay in supply of raw material and finished goods are being transported to their respective destinations. Apart, from this hundreds of employees from the Butibori Industrial Estate were stuck on the highway for hours, resulting in disruption of industrial operations, delayed shift changes, and widespread frustration among workers and transporters. He expressed strong concern over the lack of preparedness, questioning why commuters were not informed or advised on alternative routes despite prior notice of the rally. Hundreds of industries are suffering from losses due to delay in material transportation and workers “Such a situation could have been easily avoided with proper coordination and timely public communication,” said a BMA spokesperson. “The protest was known in advance, yet no traffic diversions, advisories, or alerts were issued for the thousands of people who depend on Wardha Road daily. The resulting chaos reflects a serious lapse in planning.” The BMA has urged the Nagpur Police and district administration to conduct a review of the two-day event and take steps to ensure that essential industrial corridors like Wardha Road are managed with foresight during major gatherings or processions. 

 

 

Fuel supply in Nagpur has been severely affected following the ongoing farmers’ agitation led by Prahar Sanghatana President Bachchu Kadu and other farmer leaders. The agitation, which began on October 28, has resulted in massive traffic-jams and road-blockages on Wardha Road, the main route through which petrol and diesel tankers enter Nagpur district. Due to the disruption, only about 25 per cent of the city’s daily fuel requirement is being supplied to petrol pumps, causing panic among citizens and raising fears of a fuel shortage in city. There are around 290 petrol pumps in Nagpur district, including 105 in the urban area and 90 in rural regions. On an average, Nagpur requires nearly 9 lakh litres of petrol and 5 lakh litres of diesel every day. The fuel is mainly supplied from depots located at Borkhedi and Wardha. However, because of the agitation, hundreds of tankers are stranded on highways, unable to reach their destinations. Petrol pump owners are already struggling to manage the limited supply. “Normally, we get our supply early in the morning, but since the agitation started, we have not received a single tanker. If the situation doesn’t improve soon, we’ll run out of stock completely,” said a petrol pump owner. Another petrol pump owner said, the District Administration has been informed about the disruption and is trying to coordinate with police officials to ensure tanker movement through alternative safe routes. However, if the agitation continues and fuel supply remains blocked for another day, Nagpur may face an acute shortage of petrol and diesel which could affect transport services, he added.

 

 

Against the backdrop of threat to disrupt rail services by the agitating farmers on Wardha Road, Railway authorities, on Wednesday, took extra precautions to deal with any adverse situation. Senior Railway officers keeping track of the agitation went into action mode even as Railway Protection Force (RPF) stepped up its co-ordination with State police authorities. This came after going through a statement of farmers leaders that they might also contemplate ‘rail roko’ to press for loan waivers as promised by MahaYuti alliance. Railways on alert Especially, on Khapri to Jamtha section, RPF along with Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel were deployed at key points. Railway officials mapped the area from where rail tracks can be accessed via road. Earlier, in the morning, a stray group of overenthusiastic farmers reportedly moved closer to tracks near Khapri. However, alert local police authorities stopped those coming near the railway tracks. The Railway authorities also alerted its workforce to keep an eye out while negotiating the Wardha Road section and pass on any suspicious information to control room. Senior Railway officers of Central Railway’s Nagpur Division camped at Operations Control during morning hours to keep tab on the situation. RPF control was on full alert mode and keeping a hawk’s eye for safety of tracks and ensure uninterrupted movement of trains. Senior officers postponed officials inspection tours in light of the tense situation due to farmers agitation. The Ajni-Butibori section of Nagpur Division is key corridor of Indian Railways. This section is common to movement of trains on Howrah-Mumbai as well as Grand Trunk route. Apart from that this route is also crucial for movement of coal that in turn keep the furnaces of thermal power stations in running condition. Similarly, extra manpower was also deployed at Nagpur and Ajni railway stations to deal with crowd and foil any attempt to derail train operations. By evening, as farmers agitation tapered off following intervention of Bombay High Court’s Nagpur Bench, the railway officials heaved a sigh of relief.