Chandigarh: The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU-Rajewal) on Monday took out a motorcycle rally against the proposed India-US trade agreement and other issues, warning that they would launch a nationwide protest if the agreement is signed.
Due to the farmers’ protest in Chandigarh, traffic restrictions were imposed on several routes during the period.
Demanding cancellation of the India-US trade agreement, the protesters claimed that the government’s trade policies favoured multinational companies and global trade interests at the cost of farmers and the dairy sector.
They claimed that American farmers receive large-scale government support and operate on a larger scale, making the competition difficult for Indian farmers, who mostly have small landholdings.
The protesters further claimed that farmers’ incomes and the agricultural economy could be affected as the agreement could result in the large-scale entry of agricultural products, pulses, fruits, vegetables and other food items into Indian markets.
“If the bilateral trade agreement with the US is signed, the same day protests will be held in across the country,” BKU (Rajewal) head Balbir Singh Rajewal said.
“All tolls on roads will be made free for one day in Punjab for two hours on July 17 to protest against the proposed Indo-US trade deal,” he added.
Talking about Monday’s protest, Rajewal said some of their issues pertained to the Centre while some related to the state.
He expressed concerns over the depleting water table in Punjab and challenges faced by agriculture due to climate change.
In view of the protest, Chandigarh police had announced traffic restrictions on Monday from 10.30 am to 3 pm on several major roads across the city.
The public was advised to use alternate routes during the protest period. On Friday, the farmers under the banner of the BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) and other farmer outfits took out a rally from Sector 34 to Matka Chowk, demanding the cancellation of the India-US trade agreement.
On Friday, the farmer groups drove scores of tractor-trolleys, buses, jeeps and other vehicles on city roads here to protest against the proposed India-US trade agreement and other issues, including the recent increase in petrol and diesel prices.
