Thousands of farmers assembled across India—from Punjab in the north to Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the south—to protest a proposed trade arrangement between New Delhi and Washington. Demonstrators argue that expanded market access for American goods could strain India’s domestic agriculture and disrupt rural livelihoods.
Quick Reads
- Farmers held coordinated protests across multiple states.
- Concerns center on agricultural imports and market access.
- The issue revives memories of the large-scale farm protests of 2020–21.
- Government leaders maintain that key farm sectors remain protected.
- Debate continues over genetically modified crops and tariff concessions.
Nationwide Demonstrations
The rallies highlight the delicate balance faced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his administration works to ease trade tensions with the United States while safeguarding India’s vast rural economy. Agriculture supports millions of small landholders, making it both an economic pillar and a powerful political force.
In Punjab, one of India’s agricultural heartlands, farmers were joined by rural laborers and trade union representatives. Protesters raised slogans against Modi and US President Donald Trump, expressing fears that reduced trade barriers could allow cheaper imports to compete directly with local produce.
The scale of participation has drawn comparisons to the nationwide protests of 2020 and 2021, when farmers mobilized in large numbers over agricultural reforms, creating sustained political pressure on the government.
Farmers’ Voices
“This is a betrayal of the country,” said Raminder Singh, member of the National Coordination Committee of Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a farmer group that is among the organizers. He accused the Indian government of surrendering to Trump, adding that a flood of US imports would threaten domestic farmers. “We do not support this open-ended trade deal with the US.”
“This government is trying to sell the sovereignty of our country by cutting deals,” said Ramesh Parashat, a senior leader with All India United Trade Union Centre. “They want to open the agriculture sector to corporates.”
“This free trade agreement is about a rich country catching a weaker one and signing a bilateral deal,” Hannan Mullah, a senior leader with SKM, said at the gathering in the Indian capital. “This deal is suicidal and will destroy Indian produce.”
Government’s Position
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has sought to reassure rural communities, stating that sensitive agricultural segments such as dairy and poultry are not part of the ongoing negotiations. He also emphasized that there would be no concessions on imports of major genetically modified crops—an issue that has long drawn scrutiny in India.
Nonetheless, analysts note that certain adjustments—such as permitting imports of distillers dried grains (DDGS), commonly used in animal feed, and lowering duties on soybean oil—could increase competition within parts of the agricultural supply chain.
Uncertainty Around the Deal
Earlier this month, President Trump announced progress on a trade understanding following discussions with Modi, suggesting reduced tariffs in exchange for greater purchases of US goods. However, official details from the Indian side remain limited, and recent revisions to US statements have created additional ambiguity.
A revised fact sheet from the White House softened language around specific commitments, including references to pulses—an essential component of Indian diets—adding to the uncertainty surrounding the final terms.
Broader Implications
Beyond immediate tariff changes, the protests reflect deeper anxieties about market liberalization and corporate participation in agriculture. For many farmers, the issue is not only economic but also tied to questions of food security, sovereignty, and long-term rural stability.
As negotiations continue, the government faces the task of maintaining international trade partnerships while preserving confidence among its domestic agricultural base.
Disclaimer
This article is a curated and rewritten summary based on publicly available reports and statements. Storify News is a news aggregation platform and does not claim original reporting on the events described. Quotes are reproduced as attributed in source coverage for informational purposes.
Related Article – Trump and Modi Strike Surprise Tariff Deal to Reset India–US Ties
