Youth Congress protest US trade deal, new procurement norms in Karnal grain market
Protesters raise slogans against the central and Haryana governments, accusing them of pursuing policies damaging to farmers and youth
Youth Congress workers and leaders held a ‘Kisan Nyay Satyagraha’ by staging a dharna at the Karnal grain market against the proposed US trade deal as well as the new procurement rules, including biometric verification.
Leading the protest, Haryana Youth Congress President Nishit Kataria said the Youth Congress would make farmers aware of the trade deal as well as the BJP government’s anti-farmer rules, including biometric verification. He also announced that a yatra would be taken out across the state.
During the dharna, participants raised slogans against the central and state governments, accusing them of pursuing policies damaging to farmers and youth.
Kataria alleged that government decisions were causing heavy losses to farmers. He strongly opposed the proposed US trade deal, calling it harmful to Indian farmers, and demanded its immediate cancellation.
Kataria said Indian farmers, dependent on small holdings and limited resources, would face unfair competition from mechanised farming practices in the US.
Kataria reiterated the demand for a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP), stressing that without MSP assurance, farmers cannot overcome economic distress. He said the worsening condition of farmers reflects the government’s neglect of their rights.
District Youth Congress President Rajat Lathar raised the issue of alleged irregularities in paddy procurement during the last season and said that the government has introduced biometric verification and the clicking of farmers’ pictures with tractors bearing registered numbers to harass farmers.
He added that the scam had taken place earlier due to an organised nexus of officials and employees of the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB), procurement agencies, arhtiyas, and millers.
He described the biometric system as a hardship for farmers. Lathar demanded an impartial investigation into the previous paddy procurement scam and strict action against those found guilty. He emphasised that any injustice to farmers would not be tolerated.
They announced that the Youth Congress would continue to protest until farmers’ problems are resolved.
