Jalandhar-Senior Congress leader, MLA from Bholath and Chairman of the All India Kisan Congress, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, today strongly criticized the proposed Indo-US trade treaty, terming it anti-farmer and a serious threat to the agricultural economy of Punjab and the country.
Khaira said that any agreement allowing increased import of subsidised agricultural products from the United States would expose Indian farmers to unfair competition, as American farmers receive massive government subsidies, advanced infrastructure support and assured market protection. “Our farmers, already burdened with rising input costs, stagnant MSP expansion and mounting debt, cannot compete with heavily subsidised US agriculture. Such a treaty will devastate Punjab’s agrarian economy and push farmers into deeper financial distress,” he said.
He warned that opening Indian markets to cheaper imports of crops such as maize, soybean, dairy products and other farm commodities would lead to a collapse in domestic prices, directly hurting the income and livelihood of millions of farmers. Khaira also expressed concern that the agreement may gradually weaken India’s Minimum Support Price (MSP) system and public procurement mechanism, which form the backbone of Punjab’s rural economy.
The All India Kisan Congress Chairman demanded that the Government of India make the full details of the proposed treaty public and hold comprehensive consultations with farmer organizations and state governments before signing any agreement that affects the livelihood of the farming community.
Khaira also took a strong dig at the Shiromani Akali Dal and its President Sukhbir Singh Badal, questioning their complete silence on the issue. “The Akali Dal claims to be a party of farmers, yet it has not uttered a single word against a treaty that threatens the very survival of Punjab’s farmers. Their silence exposes their political opportunism and lack of commitment to the farming community,” he said.
He urged the Akali leadership to clarify its stand and come forward to protect the interests of Punjab’s farmers instead of remaining silent spectators.
Khaira reiterated that the Congress Party and the All India Kisan Congress would strongly oppose any trade agreement that compromises India’s food security, weakens MSP, or harms the economic interests of farmers.