Fertiliser Crisis in Madhya Pradesh: MLA Dons Helmet to Join Farmer Protests Amid Growing Unrest

A viral photo shows MLA Kailash Kushwaha dressed in plain clothes and a helmet.

Bhopal:

Madhya Pradesh is experiencing significant unrest over fertiliser shortages, with farmers angrily confronting authorities and even an MLA standing in line for hours in protest. Disturbing scenes of long queues, police baton charges, and disorder at fertiliser distribution centers have emerged from various districts including Bhind, Morena, Sheopur, Rewa, and Satna.

Recently in Rewa, police conducted a lathicharge on farmers waiting in fertiliser queues, while in Satna, BJP MLA Pratima Bagri reportedly had to alter her travel route due to protests by enraged farmers.

Shivpuri has now become the focal point of the controversy, following a widely circulated image of Congress MLA Kailash Kushwaha wearing a helmet while queuing for fertiliser tokens alongside ordinary farmers.

The viral image shows MLA Kailash Kushwaha from Pohri Assembly constituency in casual attire with a helmet, standing among farmers at the Pohri Agricultural Produce Market. The legislator explained he wanted to personally witness farmers' struggles. "Farmers have been queuing since 4 am, yet no official, SDM, or Tehsildar is present. There's pushing, shoving, and no arrangements for drinking water or seating," Kushwaha reported.

He claimed fertiliser tokens were being distributed selectively, with the Patwari (village accountant) favoring certain individuals while genuine farmers were overlooked. "This is injustice. The system has completely collapsed," he told journalists after directly calling the District Collector from the location, demanding immediate action.

Tension is particularly high in rural districts during the sowing season, with farmers reporting crop planting delays due to shortages of urea and DAP fertilisers.

Despite the spreading chaos, Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development Minister Edal Singh Kansana denies any scarcity. He asserts that sufficient fertiliser is available throughout all districts. Official data indicates that between April 1 and September 9, 2025, the state had 18.34 lakh metric tonnes of urea available, with 16.19 lakh metric tonnes sold and approximately 2.15 lakh metric tonnes remaining in stock. For DAP + NPK fertilisers, 13.96 lakh metric tonnes were available by September 9, with 9.71 lakh metric tonnes sold. The minister stated, "7 to 8 fertiliser racks are arriving daily" across various districts.

However, the situation on the ground appears markedly different. Throughout numerous districts, frustrated farmers queue in pre-dawn darkness, only to return home without supplies or, worse, injured in confrontations.

MLA Kushwaha's image, standing in line wearing a protective helmet, has spread widely across social media and symbolizes the growing discontent. Meanwhile, the state government maintains that fertiliser supplies remain adequate.