Farmers from the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) staged a massive protest at the Ghaziabad collectorate on Tuesday, warning that the proposed India-US trade deal would be a ‘death warrant’ for small and marginal farmers. Led by district president Bijendra Singh, farmers from dozens of villages arrived on tractors and submitted a 15-point memorandum to the Prime Minister through the district magistrate.
The union strongly opposed the trade deal, arguing that opening agriculture and dairy sectors to foreign competition without adequate protection would devastate India’s MSP system, public procurement, and rural economy. ‘Subsidized foreign agricultural products will flood our markets, destroying the livelihoods of millions,’ Singh said.
The memorandum demanded a legal guarantee of MSP based on the Swaminathan Commission’s C2+50% formula, a minimum cane price of ₹500 per quintal, loan waivers for farmers and agricultural laborers, free electricity for agriculture, and 300 free units for rural consumers. They also called for a halt to any free trade agreement affecting agriculture and dairy.
Locally, the BKU raised issues of inadequate DAP and urea supply, protection of crops from stray cattle, improved rural electricity, pending cane payments, and the Wave City builder dispute affecting farmers. Singh warned of a major agitation against the builder if positive talks don’t happen soon, with the date to be decided by the union’s administrative committee.
Farm leaders stressed that agriculture is the foundation of India’s food security and self-reliance, urging the central government to seriously consider their demands.
Article and image source: sachkahoon.com
