Farmers gather Pipli Grain Market in Kurukshetra to protest against India-US Trade Deal

Hundreds of farmers gathered at the Pipli Grain Market in Kurukshetra to mark their resentment against the India-US Trade Deal and press for the long-pending demands of the farmers, on Monday.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) held a Kisan Mazdoor Jan Kranti Rally in which farmers from Haryana, Punjab, UP and Uttarakhand have arrived to mark their presence.

The union leaders accused the BJP of compromising with the interests of the farmers under the pressure of the US.

BKU (Charuni) spokesperson Rakesh Bains said besides the trade deal, the farmers are also stressing on the long-pending demands including the legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP). Other demands include loan waivers, adequate compensation for crop losses, amendments in the Land Acquisition Act, improvement in the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, cancellation of FIRs registered during farmers’ protests and action against those involved in the Haryana paddy scam.

He said the Centre has disappointed the farmers and has left them with no other option, but to launch another agitation.

Since Monday, March 23 is observed as Martyrs Day (Shaheed Diwas) and commemorates Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru, the farmers sought to pay tribute by standing up for their rights.

Implementation of the unjust trade deal shall lead the agriculture sector to be controlled by corporates and the farmers will bear suffering by becoming their workers.

The farmers have threatened to launch a massive agitation on Monday if the government failed to give any positive response.

Meanwhile, heavy police deployment can be seen to maintain the law and order situation and stop the farmers from moving towards the Delhi-Ambala National Highway.