The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), along with a joint platform of central trade unions and independent sectoral federations, has called for a nationwide “protest day” on March 10 to oppose the ongoing conflict in West Asia and recent India-US economic agreements.
In separate statements issued on Saturday, the organisations said the protest would highlight concerns over the military confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran, as well as what they described as unequal economic arrangements with the US.
The SKM said the day would be marked by a massive rally of farmers in Barnala district of Punjab, while protests and demonstrations would also take place across several parts of the country. The programmes are expected to involve farmers, agricultural labourers, workers, traders, students and women’s organisations.
The trade unions have appealed to the public to observe the day as “Anti-Imperialist-War Day for World Peace.”
In its statement, the SKM strongly criticised the conflict in West Asia, saying the war involving the US and Israel against Iran had pushed the Middle East into a state of armed conflict and created economic uncertainty globally.
The farmers’ body expressed concern that escalating tensions in the region could adversely affect India’s economy and the livelihoods of millions of Indians working in Gulf countries.
Also read: Power employees call nationwide strike on March 10
According to the SKM, over 90 lakh Indian citizens are employed in Gulf nations, supporting more than five crore dependents back home. It said their safety could be at risk if the conflict intensifies.
The organisation also noted that the Gulf region plays a crucial role in India’s economy, pointing out that around 55 per cent of the country’s crude oil imports come from these countries. The region is also a major market for Indian agricultural exports such as Basmati rice, buffalo meat, marine products, sugar, fruits and vegetables, providing livelihoods to farmers, workers and small businesses.
The SKM also criticised the Union government’s foreign policy and economic decisions, alleging that the Centre had accepted unequal terms under the interim India-US trade framework announced earlier this year.
The organisation reiterated its long-standing demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) based on the Swaminathan Commission recommendations and a comprehensive farm loan waiver.
Meanwhile, the trade unions urged the government to take steps to protect Indians working in the Gulf and to uphold India’s traditional stance of supporting peace and opposing military conflicts.
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