The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has announced nationwide protests on Wednesday against the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and other trade pacts. According to reports from Business Standard, the farmers' body has written to President Droupadi Murmu, urging her to intervene to stop the Centre from signing the agreements. The organisation has announced that farmers will observe July 22 as 'Farmers' Pledge Day against FTAs', hold public meetings in villages and take a pledge to continue nationwide protests until the agreements are repealed.
In an open letter to the president, the SKM has urged her to instruct Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to sign the India-US Free Trade Agreement, repeal all signed FTAs and ensure discussion in Parliament on their impact on the country's economy, self-reliance and sovereignty. As reported by Business Standard, the organisation claims that the FTAs, negotiated in secrecy and under corporate pressure, are a profound betrayal of India's national interest and a blueprint for economic colonisation. The SKM alleges that the proposed trade deals would allow subsidised agricultural and industrial products from countries such as the United States and European Union members into the Indian market, hurting domestic producers. Farmer groups fear that American farmers often receive higher subsidies and operate on larger farms, while many Indian farmers depend on smaller landholdings and limited financial support. The organisation has also condemned the police action against students protesting in Delhi on Monday and announced that its members would burn effigies of Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday.
The SKM has claimed that the proposed trade agreements would allow increased imports of subsidised dairy products, processed food, edible oils and other agricultural commodities, resulting in a fall in domestic prices and affecting farmers' incomes. According to Business Standard, the organisation has demanded that all documents relating to the FTA negotiations be placed in the public domain and debated in Parliament, stating that agreements with long-term implications for the country's economy should not be finalised without legislative scrutiny. Farmer organisations are particularly concerned about possible market access for products such as soybean oil, fruits, nuts, animal feed products and other agricultural commodities, along with sensitive sectors like dairy, poultry, wheat, rice and sugar. The Centre has maintained that India's agricultural interests will not be compromised during negotiations, with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stating that India will sign only a balanced and beneficial agreement for all stakeholders. The SKM has alleged that the agreements would adversely affect small and marginal farmers as well as the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector.
The SKM has extended support to students' demands, including the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the scrapping of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and a compensation of ₹1 crore each to the families of those students who have committed suicide over examination-related issues. As reported by Business Standard, the umbrella body of farm unions has condemned the police lathicharge and use of tear-gas shells against students protesting in Delhi on Monday and announced that farmers would burn effigies of Modi on Wednesday in protest. The organisation has planned demonstrations outside the offices of NDA MPs, burning effigies of Modi and US President Donald Trump, and opening toll plazas from noon to 3 pm as part of the nationwide campaign. Farmer organisations are demanding transparency in the India-US trade negotiations and want details of the agreement to be placed in the public domain, urging the government not to approve any deal that increases foreign competition in agriculture without safeguards for Indian farmers.
