Farm unions hold joint stir; slam Centre for bowing to US pressure

Three farmer forums Samyukt Kisan Morcha (All-India), Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) participated in the statewide “Anti-Repression Day” demonstrations outside deputy administrative complexes on Friday. The joint protest is being seen as the first patch-up move after their five rounds of failed “Ekta” talks.

The farmers were protesting against the visit of a US trade delegation to finalise an Indo-US bilateral trade agreement, including reducing import duties on American agricultural products. Farmer groups fear this could worsen the agricultural crisis in India by increasing competition and lowering prices for local crops.

During a protest in Patiala, farmers were holding placards that read “American delegation, go back”. Farmers argue that such agreements could deepen farm debts and lead to more suicides by farmers.

BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) chief Joginder Singh Ugrahan said in a statement that the Centre was kneeling before imperialism.

“It will have an unprecedented impact on Indian agriculture. Already, farmers are facing a crisis. Now, if the Centre allows the import of US agriculture and dairy products without any barriers, the crisis will worsen. Any such step will be anti-national and anti-farmer. This government, which claims to be nationalist, should stop these negotiations if they are truly nationalist. Otherwise, we will be forced to call them pseudo-nationalists,” Ugrahan said in a statement.

Farmers also lambasted the state government for arresting KMM and SKM (Non-Political) leaders and the crackdown at Khanauri and Shambhu on March 19. Hours after being released from the jail, KMM convener Pandher also welcomed the move of a united protest.

He said, “I am always in favour of unity among farm unions. Our enemy is same, our issues are same. Differences should be buried and a joint struggle launched against the government that is hell-bent to bring corporates into agriculture.”

All India Kisan Federation president and SKM leader Prem Singh Bhangu said agriculture being the state subject, the Punjab Government could not run away from its responsibility of ensuring MSP and procurement of agricultural produce and farm debt waiver, besides providing clean canal water for drinking and irrigation.