Police lathi-charge farmers waiting for fertilizer in Rewa as shortage problem worsens in Madhya Pradesh

The fertilizer shortage problem in Madhya Pradesh continues to worsen with police resorting to lathi-charge on protesting farmers who had been waiting in line for hours through the night in Rewa district, prompting Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to issue directions to district Collectors to deal with the situation.

The incident took place late on Tuesday (September 2, 2025) night at Rewa’s Karahiya Mandi (marketplace) where several farmers from across the district had been waiting in queues to collect tokens for fertlizer, with some alleging that they had been waiting for at least 48 hours and mismanagement on part of the administration.

However, a number of farmers began sloganeering against the administration after officials halted the token distribution, resulting in arguments between the two sides and baton-charge by the local police. Some videos of the alleged incident has also gone viral on social media, showing some personnel resorting to lathi-charge to disperse a large crowd.

Speaking to reporters, a protesting farmer said that the farmers had been waiting in line since morning but around 10 p.m. the officials said that the tokens will not be given anymore.

“Since they had distributed tokens on Monday (September 1, 2025) night too, we requested them to continue the distribution through the night and we will go. But they refused to do and when the farmers did not leave the spot, they started hitting us with batons,” the farmer said.

Another farmer alleged that a fellow farmer was “locked in a room and beaten up by the police”.

The district administration, however, refuted the allegations and claimed that some enraged farmers had locked up some officials in a room.

“In the evening [Tuesday], some farmers got enraged and locked the Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar, and other officials in a room while they were distributing fertilizer. Upon receiving the information, the police arrived at the scene and used mild force to free them. No kind of lathi charge was carried out here,” the administration said on X.

Long queues, protests and arguments between farmers and officials have been reported in various other districts over the past few weeks. In Satna, Damoh and Morena districts, angry farmers have resorted to blockading highways and protesting at various government offices in the last one week.

Following the incident, Mr. Yadav held a review meeting with senior officials and collectors of various districts, and issued directions for management for fertiliser distribution.

Mr. Yadav said that the Collectors will be held accountable in case of any mismanagement in the distribution process in their districts.

“There should be an intensive review of fertilizer availability in the districts. Also, share the information about the stock of fertilizer available in the district with the public representatives, this will help in making the farmers aware of the actual status of fertilizer availability,” the Chief Minister said, as per a government statement, while asking the officials to involve the local representatives of farmer outfits in the process.

Also Read | BJP MLA clashes with Collector over fertilizer shortage in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind

Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress slammed the ruling BJP over the situation and said the Rewa incident was a “proof of government atrocities” on farmers.

M.P. Congress president Jitu Patwari, in an X post, said, “The Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister of the country [Shivraj Singh Chouhan] make promises every year! Every year the farmer remains troubled for fertilizer! Every year the ‘window of lies’ opens, but every year it closes even before the fertilizer is given!”

“My request is, question the BJP leaders, MLAs, MPs of your respective areas! Wherever you meet them, definitely ask, ‘How long will this enmity with farmers continue?’,” Mr. Patwari said.