Farmers Protest: Bachchu Kadu Drops 'Rail Roko' Andolan After Bombay High Court Cautions Against Public Disturbance

Farmers' leader and former MLA Omprakash alias Bachchu Kadu on Thursday cancelled his proposed plan to stage a "Rail Roko Andolan" in Nagpur after the Bombay High Court cautioned him against probable inconvenience to the citizens.Notably, Kadu led thousands of farmers and staged protests by blocking the National Highway 44 popularly known as Wardha Road, which connects to the Samruddhi Mahamarg (Highway) and also is an important road for travelling to hospitals and educational institutions. On Wednesday, single-judge Justice Rajnish Vyas, presiding over a vacation court, had directed Kadu to forthwith clear the protest site as blocking of the highway caused tremendous inconvenience to citizens. The judge also took into account the fact that the Nagpur City Police had by an order passed on October 26, permitted Kadu to hold a protest on October 28 at a specific land and the said permission was only for a single day.Therefore, the court had ordered Kadu to clear the site immediately and if he failed to do so, Police Authorities were directed to take stern action against the protestors.On Thursday morning, when the matter was called out, the court was informed that the protest site has been cleared and the traffic flow is now smooth on the said highway. However, it was highlighted that now Kadu has given a press statement that if the concerned authorities failed to hold talks with him, he will proceed with a "Rail Roko Andolan.""It is necessary to mention here that what I am concerned about is the safety and rights of citizens. If there is an apprehension that free movement of railway traffic will also be affected, then there is no option but to issue notice to the concerned departments," Justice Vyas said in the order, while issuing notice to various departments such as the Ministry of Railways, Railway Protection Force (RPF) etc. All the respondent authorities i.e. Police Department, Railway Department and local administration would act as a team to ensure that no untoward incident takes place and citizens are not put to inconvenience, the judge made it clear. "It is made clear that the respondents will take all appropriate steps, in advance, in order to ensure that there is no disturbance either to the road transport or movement of railway traffic," the court said. At this advocate Hariom Dhage, representing Kadu, on instructions, submitted that his client has taken a decision to cancel "Rail Roko Andolan." "The said statement is accepted as an undertaking to the Court. A good gesture on the part of respondent No.1 (Kadu) will certainly set an example," the judge observed, while adjourning the matter for further hearing till Friday morning.Click Here To Read/Download Order

Farmers Protest: Bachchu Kadu Drops 'Rail Roko' Andolan After Bombay High Court Cautions Against Public Disturbance

Narsi Benwal

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