New Delhi-Senior Congress leader, MLA from Bholath and Chairman of the All India Kisan Congress, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, today met Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Shri Rahul Gandhi, along with leaders of various farmers’ organizations from across the country at the Parliament House complex in New Delhi. During the meeting, the farmer delegation expressed deep concern over the proposed India–US interim trade agreement, which they warned could severely threaten the livelihoods of Indian farmers and farm labourers by opening the doors for large scale agricultural imports. The delegation highlighted the potential adverse impact on key crops including corn, soybean, cotton, fruits and nuts, and cautioned that such a move could destabilize India’s agricultural economy and weaken the country’s food security.  Shri Rahul Gandhi assured the delegation of his full support and reiterated his firm commitment to stand with the farming community against any policy that harms their interests. He emphasized that any trade agreement that compromises farmers’ incomes or the nation’s food security is unacceptable and assured that the Congress party would strongly oppose such anti farmer measures both inside and outside Parliament.
 Sukhpal Singh Khaira, while briefing the media after the meeting, stated that there was a broad consensus on launching a nationwide movement to oppose the proposed trade deal and to safeguard the interests of farmers and agricultural workers across the country. He said the farming community views the agreement as a serious threat that could expose Indian agriculture to unfair competition from heavily subsidized foreign produce.
Khaira further said that the All India Kisan Congress, in coordination with various farmer unions and like-minded organizations, will mobilize farmers across states to build a strong democratic movement to protect their livelihoods. He added that the Congress leadership, under Rahul Gandhi’s guidance, remains fully committed to defending the rights and dignity of the nation’s annadatas. The meeting was attended by several prominent farmer leaders representing different states, reflecting growing national concern over the implications of the proposed trade agreement.  Khaira urged the Union Government to immediately make the full details of the trade negotiations public and refrain from signing any agreement that compromises the economic security of Indian farmers.