Shiv Sena (UBT) stages blockade on Samruddhi Expressway to protest low onion procurement rates

Workers of the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday (May 18, 2026) staged a “chakka jam” (road blockade) agitation on the Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to protest the low onion procurement rates.

“The agitation, which took place around 10 a.m. at the Jambargaon interchange in Vaijapur tehsil, saw protesters burning tyres on the expressway, blocking the traffic,” an official said.

Speaking to reporters, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve, who led the protest, said, “The authorities did not grant permission for our agitation. But we are here to support onion farmers. We want the government to procure the crop at a good rate, and that is our only demand from the agitation.”

He claimed that onions were being procured at 25 to 50 paisa per kg, which is unfair to farmers. “Onion cultivators are committing suicide. While the Central government has announced a procurement rate of ₹12.35 per kg, no one is purchasing the produce at this rate,” Mr. Danve alleged.

The police later detained Mr. Danve and the agitators and took them to Vaijapur police station, clearing the blockade on the expressway.

Amid the backdrop of falling onion prices, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan last week announced that the Centre will procure the bulb at the rate of ₹12.35 per kg from farmers.

The price of the kitchen essential has fallen as exports have been affected owing to the West Asia crisis.