Indo-US trade pact: Farmers protest outside Tarun Chugh’s office

Amritsar: The farmers here on Sunday held a protest outside the office of BJP national secretary Tarun Chugh to oppose the India-US agreement.The protesters also demanded withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill, the Seed Act, the labour codes, and the restoration of the original form of MGNREGA, besides seeking an Indo-Pak trade treaty.A large number of farmers, labourers, employees, and women participated in the protest demonstration.Speaking on the occasion, farmer leader Satnam Singh Ajnala said the tax-free agreement being signed by the Govt of India with the United States and other European countries "under pressure" would have dangerous consequences.He expressed concern that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was entering into an agreement with the US under heavy pressure, while his govt was not informing the people of the nation about its details. Instead, all statements regarding the agreement are coming from the United States, said Ajnala.Another farmer leader, Rattan Singh Randhawa, alleged that under pressure, the govt agreed to include sectors such as agriculture, dairy farming, and fisheries — areas that were long kept out of such deals — into the tax-free arrangement. As a result, the American agricultural sector will gain full access to the Indian market, he added.MSID:: 128675442 413 |