Opposition protests India-US trade deal in Parliament, backs labour unions’ bandh

NEW DELHI: Opposition MPs Thursday staged a protest in the Parliament complex over the India-US interim trade deal, accusing the Modi govt of surrendering Indian interests. They also lent support to trade unions’ nationwide bandh against the newly-notified Labour Codes.Senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, TR Baalu, Dharmendra Yadav, KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, Sudama Prasad, among a host of MPs, raised slogans at the Parliament entrance while holding a huge banner emblazoned with “trap deal”, and carrying “Narender Surrender” posters.Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused the govt of “ignoring” the voices of workers and farmers while making decisions concerning their future.Kharge said all the country's trade unions, farmers, and workers are on the streets against the Modi govt's trade deal, labour laws and the “snatching away of MGNREGA”.

Added he, “We stand firmly against the anti-people Trap Deal, which has mortgaged the future of millions of toiling farmers, workers, and labourers. Succumbing to foreign pressure, the Modi govt has tampered with the lives of crores of citizens of the country.

”Rahul wondered if Prime Minister Narendra Modi will listen to farmers and workers now, or if the “grip” on him is too strong, in what was a reference to his Lok Sabha speech.

Kharge said, “From the streets to Parliament, our struggle will continue.”MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “They are betraying the farmers. The kind of trade deal they have signed will result in suffering for farmers. We are supporting the labour unions in their strike today.”