Punjab Farmers Oppose Proposed India-US Trade Pact, Burn Modi-Trump Effigies

Hoshiarpur: Farmers, under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, held protests at several locations across Punjab on Wednesday against the proposed India-US trade agreement, alleging that the deal would harm farmers, labourers, small traders and youth.

The protesting farmers also burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.

The protest was organised on the call of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, under which demonstrations and effigy-burning protests were held at nearly 28 locations across 21 districts of Punjab.

The protesters raised slogans against the central government and demanded the immediate cancellation of the proposed trade agreement.

In Hoshiarpur, the protest was led by district president Paramjit Singh Bhulla. The leaders alleged that the agreement would open the Indian agricultural market to foreign products and adversely affect small and marginal farmers.

They claimed that the government's trade policies favoured multinational companies and global trade interests at the cost of farmers and the dairy sector.

They stated that American farmers receive large-scale government support and operate on a larger scale, making competition difficult for Indian farmers who mostly have small landholdings.

The leaders alleged that the agreement could result in large-scale entry of agricultural products, pulses, fruits, vegetables and other food items into Indian markets, which may further impact farmers' income and the agricultural economy.

They accused the government of repeating the approach adopted during the three farm laws, alleging that farmers' organisations and other stakeholders were not consulted before decisions affecting agriculture were made.

The protesters demanded cancellation of the India-US trade agreement, withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill 2025 and Seed Bill 2025, besides opposing the installation of smart electricity meters.

The KMM leaders said the issue was not limited to farmers alone but concerned labourers, small traders, employees and ordinary citizens. They appealed to people to oppose what they described as "anti-farmer and anti-worker" policies.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (Doaba) president Manjit Singh Rai said the recent statement by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan regarding monsoon predictions and the possibility of reduced rainfall in some districts showed the need for better preparedness.

Rai said that farmers' organisations had long been demanding a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) on all crops. He urged the government to promote water-saving cropping patterns and ensure proper utilisation of canal irrigation facilities.

He emphasised that ensuring MSP for all crops and strengthening irrigation infrastructure would benefit farmers as well as help protect food security and groundwater resources.

Rai also suggested forming district-level teams to address agricultural issues and prepare for weather-related challenges.