Farmers burn effigies of PM Modi, Trump to protest India-US trade deal
On Tuesday, farmer groups in Sirsa protested against news of the India-US trade deal, burning effigies of US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.
The protest was held outside the DC office at the call of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Morcha.
Angrez Singh Kotli, General Secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Ekta, alleged that the Modi government had “surrendered” to Washington in trade negotiations. He said the agreement would harm Indian farmers, dairy workers, and fishermen by opening the market to US agricultural and industrial goods. He claimed the deal was signed in secret and its full terms were not made public. He said the lack of transparency has raised concerns about its economic impact and national interests.
Referring to statements by US officials, the leaders said the US expects greater access to India’s large agricultural market. They argued that this indicated that tariffs on some US farm products could eventually be reduced. The protesters also accused Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal of misleading the public about the details of the agreement.
Farmer leaders said they feared that cheap imports could harm domestic producers. They announced plans to participate in a three-day protest in Kurukshetra from February 23 to 25, where farmers would gather outside the Chief Minister’s residence to press their demands, which include a complete loan waiver for farmers and the resumption of old-age pensions.
Ambala: A group of farmers under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) protested against the India-US trade deal in Ambala city.
They raised slogans and accused the BJP government of compromising farmers’ interests under pressure from the US government.
The farmers burned effigies of PM Modi and US President Donald Trump near the DC office, and later submitted a memorandum to the central government.
