The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called for nationwide protests today (July 22, Wednesday) against the proposed Indo-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and other trade agreements. The group also urged President Draupadi Murmu to intervene and prevent the Center from signing the agreements.
In an open letter to the President, the umbrella body of agricultural unions asked her to “instruct Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to sign the Indo-US FTA, cancel all signed FTAs and ensure debate in Parliament” on its impact on India’s economy, self-reliance and sovereignty.
SKM claimed that the proposed trade agreements were negotiated without proper public scrutiny. “Free trade agreements negotiated in secret and under corporate pressure represent a profound betrayal of India’s national interests…a plan for economic colonialism,” she said in the letter.
Why SKM opposes trade agreements
The farmers’ body claimed that the proposed agreements would open India’s market to subsidized agricultural and industrial products from countries like the US and EU members, hurting local producers.
According to SKM, trade deals could “destroy millions of small and marginal farmers” and negatively impact the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector.
It also warned that increased imports of subsidized dairy products, processed foods, edible oils and other agricultural commodities could lead to lower domestic prices and reduce farmers’ incomes.
The organization also called for all documents related to the FTA negotiations to be placed in the public domain and discussed in Parliament, considering that agreements with long-term economic impacts should not be finalized without legislative scrutiny.
Nationwide protest plan
Announcing its protest programme, SKM said that farmers will celebrate Wednesday as “Farmers’ Pledge Day against FTAs”.
The organization said public meetings will be held in villages across the country, where farmers will pledge to continue nationwide protests until trade agreements are scrapped, resembling the farmer protests of 2020-2021.
As part of the campaign, the state coordination committees and SKM’s constituent organizations will hold demonstrations outside the offices of NDA MPs, burn effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, and open toll plazas from noon to 3 pm.
SKM expands support for student protests
SKM also condemned the police’s use of tear gas against protesting students in Delhi on Monday. The farmers’ body announced that it would burn effigies of Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday in protest against the police’s actions.
It also extended support to students’ demands, including resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, scrapping of the National Testing Agency (NTA), and compensation of Rs 1 crore each to the families of students who allegedly died by suicide over exam-related issues.
(With inputs from PTI)
