Farmers and labourers rally against trade deal
Members of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha staged a protest outside the Moti Bagh Palace residence of former Punjab Chief Minister and BJP leader Captain Amarinder Singh in Patiala on Wednesday. The demonstration was directed against the proposed India-US trade agreement, which the protesters claim would harm the agricultural sector.
Effigy of PM Modi burned
The protesting farmers and labourers raised slogans against the central government and burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express their opposition to the trade pact. They alleged that the agreement would adversely affect farmers and dairy producers, thereby impacting Punjab's agricultural economy.
Lack of consultation cited
Farmers said the Centre was moving ahead with the trade agreement without consulting farm organisations and other stakeholders. They claimed that increased imports of agricultural products from the US could lead to a decline in prices of locally produced crops and create difficulties for Indian farmers.
Concerns over economic impact
The protesters warned that states heavily dependent on agriculture, including Punjab and Haryana, could face serious economic consequences if cheaper foreign wheat and other farm produce entered the domestic market. The demonstration highlights growing unrest among farming communities ahead of the proposed trade deal.
