US-India trade deal will harm interests of local farmers: BKU

Farmers under the banner of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) on Tuesday held a tractor march in Yamunanagar against the US-India trade deal.

BKU leader Mandeep Singh Ror Chhappar said the Centre’s agricultural policies were anti-farmer. He said the US-India trade deal would harm interests of local farmers.

“Farmers in the US cultivate hundreds of acres of land, whereas most of the farmers in India own only two to three acres. If agricultural products enter the Indian market from the US, it will directly affect the income and crops of small farmers in the country,” said Chhappar.

Farmers gathered at the new grain market in Jagadhri and burnt copies of the trade deal to express their anger. Later, a large convoy of tractors moved through different routes of the city and concluded at the district secretariat.

Farmer leader Vikrant Sasauli urged the Centre to reconsider such agreement and keep farmers’ interests in mind.

Another farm leader Gurvir Singh said the agitation would continue and another rally would be held at Pipli grain market on March 23. He added that farm leaders would visit villages to mobilise farmers.

Meanwhile, the administration had made elaborate security arrangements. Police personnel were deployed at several spots to maintain law and order in the wake of tractor march.