Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi are set to lead a protest in Bhopal on February 24 against the interim India-US trade framework. The Congress alleges that the deal, by allowing cheaper US imports, is detrimental to Indian farmers. Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari announced the visit, emphasizing the party’s support for farmers’ rights in the face of perceived injustices in the trade agreement.
The Congress leaders aim to highlight the adverse impact of the trade deal on key crops like soybean, cotton, and maize. Patwari criticized the government for what he termed as succumbing to US pressure, resulting in decreased prices for these essential crops. He described the agreement as a forced compromise that directly affects farmers in Madhya Pradesh, particularly those involved in soybean, maize, and cotton cultivation.
The upcoming protest on February 24 will take the form of a farmers’ convention, known as Kisan Sammelan, in Bhopal. This event marks the beginning of a targeted campaign in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Bihar, where crops like cotton, soybean, maize, fruits, nuts, apples, almonds, and walnuts face potential risks from increased US imports.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh raised concerns about the trade framework’s impact on cotton, soybean, and maize farmers, criticizing it as a complete surrender to US corporate interests without adequate safeguards or farmer consultation. The announcement of the trade framework earlier this month triggered widespread farmer protests, strikes, and symbolic burnings of the agreement copies across the country.
The Bhopal congregation is the first in a series of planned protests, with another scheduled in Yavatmal, Maharashtra, on March 7. Congress is collaborating with various farmer organizations to mobilize for a broader national movement in support of farmers’ interests.
