Farmers Launch ‘Kisan Bachao Padyatra’ Against India-US Trade Deal, Stopped at Khanouri by Haryana Police

New Delhi: Farmers have once again intensified their protest against the Central government’s policies, which they allege are handing over the country’s agricultural sector to the United States. Farmers launched the ‘Kisan Bachao Padyatra’ against the India-US free trade agreement aimed at bringing American agricultural products into the Indian market. The BJP-led Haryana government stopped the farmers marching towards New Delhi in a peaceful protest at the Khanouri border by deploying police.

The farmers had planned to undertake a 228-kilometre foot march from the Punjab-Haryana border to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Police stopped the march led by Samyukta Kisan Morcha leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, which involved only 51 farmers.

The action is also part of the Central government’s policy of suppressing democratic protests guaranteed by the Constitution. Concrete barricades, barbed wire and water cannons were deployed to stop them. After police said the march did not have permission, the farmers continued their protest by sitting on the road.

The main reason farmers have returned to the streets is the provisions of the new trade agreement that the Central government is preparing to sign with the US. Farmers’ organisations fear that imports of agricultural products from American corporates without import duties will severely affect the income of small farmers in India. They said these products, which receive government subsidies in the US, could enter the Indian market at lower prices and create another crisis for domestic farmers.

Several products, including soybean oil, fruits, nuts and animal feed, are expected to be imported from the US with reduced tariffs.

Although the Central government says milk, wheat and rice have been excluded from the agreement, there is still no clarity on the matter. Farmers’ organisations point out that in a country heavily dependent on agriculture, cheaper imported products can completely undermine local markets and destroy farmers’ livelihoods. The Central government was sacrificing ordinary Indian farmers to protect the interests of American corporations.

The 'padyatra' is also raising demands including legal protection for minimum support prices, implementation of the C2+50 formula recommended by the M S Swaminathan Commission, waiver of agricultural loans and withdrawal of cases registered against farmers during previous protests.

Farmers had held three rounds of discussions with Haryana government officials, but proceeded with the protest after the talks failed to produce a result. Jagjit Singh Dallewal has demanded an opportunity to hold discussions with the Union Agriculture Minister, since the trade agreement is not a matter under the Haryana Chief Minister’s jurisdiction.

The farmers said the belief that protests can be suppressed and their voices silenced by using state power is merely the delusion of a fascist regime. They declared that the protest at Khanouri would continue until their demands are achieved.