Rahul Gandhi meets leaders of farm unions, launching of movement against India-US trade deal discussed

During the meeting, the farm union leaders expressed their opposition to the India-US trade deal, and conveyed their deep concern for the livelihoods of farmers of corn, soyabean, cotton, fruits and nuts, the Congress said.

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday met farmer organisation leaders from across the country and discussed the need for a large-scale national movement to oppose the India-US deal and safeguard the livelihoods of farmers and farm labourers.

Leaders of 17 farmers organisations, including All India Kisan Congress chief Sukhpal S Khaira, held discussions with Rahul at his office in Parliament House during which concerns about the recently announced trade deal with the US was discussed.

Sources said the farmer leaders expressed their opposition to the US-India trade deal and conveyed their deep concern for the livelihoods of farmers of corn, soyabean, cotton, fruits and nuts. Rahul told them that the trade deal has opened the door for agricultural imports and that many other crops would soon follow.

They also discussed the need for a large-scale national movement to oppose the deal, and safeguard the livelihoods of farmers and farm labourers.

After the meeting, Rahul posted on 'X', "Narendra 'Surrender' Modi has betrayed India’s farmers and the farmers have realized this. This isn’t just a trade deal, it is a direct assault on the livelihoods of our food providers. In today’s meeting in Parliament with the delegation from farmers’ unions, their concerns were clearly evident."

"Farmers struggling with inflation, rising costs, and uncertainty over MSP are now being left unprepared to face foreign crops backed by massive subsidies and mechanical might. This isn’t a fair fight, it is one-sided pressure. The government’s hollow assurances won’t work anymore. The future of farmers cannot be bartered away without their consent. Come what may, I and the Congress stand with India’s food providers for their rights, security, and dignity," he said.

Besides Khaira, the farm leaders who were in the meeting were Ashok Balhara of Bharatiye Kisan Mazdor Union in Haryana, Baldev S Zira of the BKU Krantikari, R Nandkumar of the Progressive Farmers Front, Amarjit S Mohri of the BKU Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Guramneet S Mangat of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha-India and Hameed Malik of the J-K Zamidara Forum among others.

Khaira told reporters that a delegation met Rahul to discuss the "anti farmer" Indo-US deal, which is "nothing but a complete surrender" before the Americans.