Farmer unions, Opposition warn of protest amid concerns over agri impact of US deal

Farmer unions and opposition Members of Parliament on Tuesday opposed the proposed India–US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Seed and Electricity Amendment Bills, warning of nationwide protests if the government moves ahead without consultations.

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) organised a Kisan Samvad at the Constitution Club of India, where several opposition MPs participated. After the programme, farmer leaders and MPs addressed the media to outline their objections.

BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said the Seed Bill had resurfaced in Parliament after decades. “Once again, what started in 1992 has returned. The Seed Bill is back. The agreement with the US will destroy farmers. When we go to villages, people ask us what this agreement is. It is a silent agreement,” he said.

Tikait warned that vague references to “other crops” in official statements could lead to unrestricted imports. “This will destroy farmers and tribal communities. The Seed Bill and Electricity Amendment Bill were brought without consulting farmers,” he added. He said farmers were ready to intensify their agitation. “We want to talk to the government, but they are not listening. We are ready to hit the roads against these agreements and bills,” he said.

RJD MP Sudhakar Singh said three proposed laws—on seeds, pesticides and electricity—were against farmers’ interests. “The US FTA will open the door to American products that are banned there. The government has not taken recommendations from standing committees. Both the EU and US agreements will affect India’s surplus,” he said, calling the deal unequal.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh criticised the government’s trade and tariff policies. “Earlier, the US charged 2.9 percent tariff, then increased it to 25 percent, and now it is 18 percent. At the same time, India has opened its market for US products at zero percent tariff,” he said.

Singh alleged that references to “other crops” meant unrestricted imports. “When they say ‘other crops’, it means everything will come. The US is also pressuring India not to buy oil from Russia. Ministers are shifting responsibility among themselves,” he said.

He also warned about the impact of changes in seed laws. “The Seed Act will divert Indian money to foreign nations. Genetically modified seeds have already damaged cotton crops in parts of North and South India. This will be a disaster for the Indian seed market,” Singh said.

Farmer leaders said MPs with similar ideological positions had come together to oppose the bills in Parliament. “We have asked MPs to fight for farmers inside Parliament,” Tikait said.

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