BJP legislator threatens officials over fertilizer price hike in Uttar Pradesh

A video of Vinod Shankar Awasthi, the BJP legislator from Dhaurhra constituency in Lakhimpur Kheri district, has circulated widely online after he confronted officials over fertilizer pricing. The incident occurred when the lawmaker stopped to address a crowd of farmers gathered outside a fertilizer committee office. Upon inquiring about fertilizer costs, Awasthi was informed that the product was being sold at Rs 280 per unit. The legislator's response was confrontational, with him warning officials that they risked losing their jobs and facing physical assault if the pricing situation was not rectified. The video, which has since become a focal point on social media platforms, captures the growing tension around agricultural input costs in the region. Fertilizer availability and pricing have emerged as significant concerns for farmers across northern India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, where agricultural communities have increasingly voiced complaints about rising costs impacting their operations.