Shiv Sena (UBT)-Led Onion Protest Disrupts Samruddhi Expressway Traffic
Police teams were deployed at the spot and later detained Ambadas Danve along with several party workers: Reports
MUMBAI: Tension escalated on the Samruddhi Expressway on Monday as hundreds of onion farmers staged a blockade under the leadership of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve. The protesters demanded immediate government intervention on export duties and a stable minimum support price for onions.
The protest was held at the Jambargaon interchange in Vaijapur tehsil around 10 am. Protestors blocked traffic on the expressway and burnt tyres, leading to a disruption in vehicular movement for some time.
The protesters alleged that onion growers in Maharashtra were being forced to sell their produce at extremely low prices, ranging between 25 paise and 50 paise per kilogram in some markets. They claimed this is despite the Centre announcing a procurement rate of Rs 12.35 per kg to stabilize the market and support farmers.
Danve said, “The price crash has pushed onion cultivators into severe financial distress, making it difficult for them to recover production costs. Protesters demanded immediate government intervention and higher procurement levels to prevent further losses in the agricultural sector.”
In a statement shared on the social media platform X, the Shiv Sena (UBT) said the agitation was organised in support of onion farmers who are facing severe financial distress due to extremely low market prices for their produce.
The party demanded that the Centre immediately begin onion procurement through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), announce a minimum support price of Rs 2,000 per quintal and provide a subsidy of Rs 1,500 per quintal to farmers.
Other demands included permanently keeping onion exports open, directly transferring fertiliser subsidies into farmers’ bank accounts, offering 75 per cent subsidy for onion storage facilities, and supplying quality onion seeds at subsidised rates.
Police teams were deployed at the spot and later detained Ambadas Danve along with several party workers before clearing the blockade and restoring traffic movement on the busy expressway.
The protest comes shortly after the Centre announced the procurement of two lakh tonnes of onions through agencies such as NAFED and NCCF, aimed at stabilising prices and addressing weak export demand and domestic market fluctuations.
