Kharge & Rahul Gandhi to Lead Farmers' Protest in Bhopal Over India-US Trade Deal
Congress plans nationwide campaign alleging new trade framework harms Indian farmers.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi are set to lead a major farmers’ protest in Bhopal on February 24 against the interim India-US trade framework. The party alleges that the agreement could adversely impact Indian farmers by enabling cheaper agricultural imports from the United States.
Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari announced that the protest will take the form of a ‘Kisan Sammelan’ in Bhopal. He stated that the party leadership would raise concerns over what it describes as injustice toward farmers, particularly in states heavily dependent on crops such as soybean, cotton, and maize.
Congress leaders have argued that reduced tariffs under the trade framework may expose domestic farmers to increased competition from US products such as soybean oil, dried distillers’ grains (DDGS), and red sorghum. Senior leader Jairam Ramesh termed the agreement a “total surrender” to corporate interests, claiming that adequate safeguards and farmer consultations were lacking.
Also Read: India-US Interim Trade Deal Set for April Rollout: Piyush Goyal
The February 24 rally marks the beginning of a broader campaign planned across states including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Bihar. These regions cultivate cotton, soybean, maize, fruits, nuts, apples, almonds, and walnuts—commodities the party claims could be vulnerable under the new trade terms.
The protest follows growing unrest among farmer groups since the announcement of the framework earlier this month. Demonstrations, strikes, and symbolic burnings of copies of the agreement have been reported in several regions, reflecting heightened tensions over agricultural trade policies.
Congress leaders indicated that the Bhopal event will be followed by another major farmers’ gathering in Yavatmal, Maharashtra, on March 7. The party is also coordinating with farmer organisations to mobilise wider support for what it describes as a sustained national movement focused on protecting agricultural interests.
Also Read: Rahul Gandhi's Five Questions to PM Modi: Is India-US Trade Deal Handing Farmers to America?
