The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday (October 30 directed Prahar Janshakti Party (PJP) leader and former MLA Omprakash alias Bachchu Kadu to immediately vacate the protest site on National Highway 44 near Nagpur, where thousands of farmers have gathered demanding a complete loan waiver.
Taking suo motu cognisance of news reports published in The Times of India and The Hitavada, Justice Rajnish R. Vyas noted that the protest had caused a 20-kilometre traffic jam on Wardha Road, affecting the movement of ambulances, police vehicles, and access to critical facilities like Nagpur Airport and the National Cancer Institute.
“Fact remains that public road, more particularly, a National Highway is blocked by the protestors which certainly violates fundamental right of the citizens to move freely throughout territory of India,” the court observed.
The judge noted that permission for the protest had been granted only for October 28 at Mouza Parsodi, a village located in Nagpur, but the agitation continued into October 29 without fresh authorisation. The court directed Mr. Kadu and his supporters to vacate the highway and other roads “forthwith” and “in peaceful manner without causing any disturbance to law-and-order situation and public peace.”
The court ordered police authorities to ensure removal of protestors and restoration of traffic by 6 PM on Wednesday, with a compliance report to be filed by 11 AM on Thursday. Notices were issued to the Commissioner of Police, Nagpur City; Collector, Nagpur; and other senior police officials, returnable on November 6.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appealed to Mr. Kadu to engage in dialogue with the government instead of holding agitations that inconvenience the public.
“My appeal to him is to come and talk to us rather than cause disruptions. In such agitations, elements with vested interests sometimes infiltrate and cause violence, so we must remain vigilant,” Mr. Fadnavis said, speaking to reporters in Pune.
He added that the government had convened a meeting to discuss farmers’ issues, which Mr. Kadu initially agreed to attend but later backed out, leading to its cancellation. State minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has also reached out to Mr. Kadu for discussions.
“He has raised several issues that cannot be resolved through agitation. A roadmap can only be chalked out after dialogue,” the CM said.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to farmers’ welfare, citing a ₹32,000 crore package already announced, and a committee formed to examine the loan waiver demand.
Mr. Kadu, however, remained firm. Speaking at the protest site near the Jamtha flyover, he said, “The agitation will not stop until the government decides on our demands.”
He urged the Chief Minister to come to Nagpur for talks instead of summoning him to Mumbai. The tractor rally, which began on Monday from Chandurbazar in Amravati district, reached Nagpur on Tuesday evening after halting at Wardha.
Mr. Kadu said the protest includes demands for proper minimum support price (MSP), welfare of specially-abled persons, and fishermen’s issues. He also stated his intention to meet office-bearers of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Published – October 30, 2025 08:45 am IST
