Major farmer organisations, including the SamyuktaKisan Morcha (SKM) and its subsidiary All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), have threatened to launch an agitation against what they describe as the Modi government’s “total surrender” in its trade deal with the United States.
In a statement, the SKM accused the government of making the proposed interim trade deal framework between India and the United States a “total surrender of Indian agriculture to American multinational corporations” and demanded the immediate resignation of Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
During an online press conference, SKM leaders said protests would be held across India in rural areas, and farmers would burn effigies of US President Donald Trump as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The outfit also extended its support to the nationwide general strike on February 12.
All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) leader Krishna Prasad said the US-India trade deal would undermine farmers’ interests as the government of India is preparing to open its markets to dried distillers’ grains, red sorghum for animal feed and soybean oil.
He accused the government of ensuring that all such deals—be it India-EU or India-US—are being done to benefit the stagnant economies of partner countries, rather than India’s own economy.
He said the issue should have been debated in Parliament, as other developed nations do, before finalising any agreement.
KrantikariKisan Union (Punjab) leader Darshan Pal said members of the outfit would burn effigies of Trump and Modi in protest, describing the deal as a death blow for the already ‘stressed’ Indian farming community.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said there were concerns among the farmers about the ongoing discussions between the two countries, as they are worried about the possible impact of the deal on them.
“The Commerce Minister is consciously propagating falsehoods and betraying the farmers and the entire nation. The SKM considers the role of the Commerce Minister to be that of a traitor and demands his immediate resignation,” the SKM said.
However, the Minister responded that important items, such as grains, spices, dairy, poultry, meat, and several vegetables and fruits—including potatoes, oranges, and strawberries—have not been included in the trade deal. He added that genetically modified crops were also left out of the agreement, including genetically modified soybeans, for which the US has searched hard to find new markets.
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