Punjab farmers head to Delhi for July 21 Mahapanchayat against US trade deal
A large contingent of farmers from Punjab left for Delhi on Sunday to participate in a Mahapanchayat on July 21 against the proposed India-US trade
A large contingent of farmers from Punjab left for Delhi on Sunday to participate in a Mahapanchayat on July 21 against the proposed India-US trade agreement. The gathering, to be held at Delhi's Kisan Ghat, has been called by the Desh Bachao Morcha, with organisers claiming that around 550 farmers' unions and social organisations from across the country will take part. Read Full Story Speaking to reporters in Beas before departing, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Punjab leader Germanjit Singh Bandala alleged that the proposed trade pact would adversely affect Indian farmers, labourers, small traders and the broader public.
He claimed the agreement was aimed at benefiting American companies and farmers while ignoring the interests of India's small and marginal cultivators. Bandala argued that American agriculture operates on a much larger scale, with farms spread across thousands of acres and backed by substantial government subsidies. In contrast, he said, most Indian farmers own only two to two-and-a-half acres of land and receive far less financial support. If cheaper agricultural imports from the United States enter the Indian market under the agreement, he claimed, small Indian farmers would struggle to compete, leading to a sharp decline in farm incomes.
The farmer leader also alleged that previous governments had protected the agricultural sector from excessive foreign influence, but claimed the current Centre was moving ahead with the trade agreement under pressure from the United States. He further asserted that the impact of the proposed deal would extend beyond agriculture, affecting small businesses and employment opportunities in other sectors as well. Bandala said farmers from Punjab, along with participants from several other states, would attend the July 21 Mahapanchayat. He added that if authorities stopped protesters from reaching the venue, they would hold peaceful gatherings at the point where they were halted and continue to raise awareness about their concerns.
Calling the protest "only the beginning," Bandala warned that the agitation would be intensified if the Centre did not scrap the proposed India-US trade deal and address the farmers' demands. He said farmer organisations would continue their movement until their demands were met. Ends
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