Over 500 Congress workers and farmers staged a fiery protest in Madhya Pradesh’s Mauganj district on Sunday, alleging a severe fertiliser shortage and systemic neglect of farmers’ plight. Led by former Congress MLA Sukhendra Singh Bana, the protesters breached police barricades in an attempt to confront Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who was attending a function 16 km away in Deotalab. The clash, marked by chaos and defiance, has spotlighted the deepening agrarian crisis in the state.

The protesters, many arriving in vehicles, gathered at the Bahuti bypass near Mauganj police station, where police had set up barricades to block their advance. Undeterred, the crowd climbed over the barriers, prompting a swift response from law enforcement. “We detained over 500 protesters briefly and released them after the chief minister’s event concluded. The situation is now peaceful,” said Mauganj Additional Superintendent of Police Vikram Singh. The incident follows a recent lathi-charge on farmers in Rewa, where police dispersed a similar protest over fertiliser unavailability at a government distribution center.

Sukhendra Singh Bana, addressing the crowd, accused the state government of ignoring critical issues affecting farmers and the poor. “Farmers are being harassed and beaten for demanding fertilisers. This is an injustice,” he charged, highlighting the acute shortage that has left cultivators struggling to prepare for the sowing season. The protest echoes broader criticisms from Congress leaders like Jitu Patwari and Ajay Singh, who have accused the BJP government of mismanaging fertiliser distribution, with farmers facing long queues and black-market exploitation.

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The BJP, however, has downplayed the crisis. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, responding to queries on Saturday, claimed fertilisers were available in sufficient quantities but admitted the distribution network needed streamlining. This stance has drawn ire from opposition leaders and farmers, who point to incidents like the recent Rewa lathi-charge and protests in Bhind, Morena, and other districts as evidence of systemic failures.

The Mauganj protest underscores the growing unrest in Madhya Pradesh, where farmers, a key political constituency, are grappling with shortages and alleged administrative apathy. With the state government facing mounting pressure, the clash raises questions about its ability to address the fertiliser crisis and restore trust among cultivators ahead of crucial agricultural cycles.

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