Farmers hold motorcycle rally to protest proposed India-US trade deal

Workers from ‘Desh Bachao Morcha’ take out a motorcycle rally against the proposed India-US trade deal and Free Trade Agreements (FTA) while heading to the Deputy Commissioner’s office to submit a memorandum on July 15, 2026 in Amritsar, Punjab. Photo credit: PTI

Farmers under the banner of ‘Desh Bachao Morcha’ on Wednesday (July 15, 2026) staged motorcycle rallies in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to demonstrate against the proposed India-US trade deal, which they said would adversely affect not only farmers but all sections of society.

Farmers associated with the ‘Desh Bachao Morcha’, an umbrella body of farmers’ unions from various states, said the agreement was not limited to the import and export of a few products. Instead, it can cover several key sectors, including agriculture, dairy, industry, digital commerce, services, intellectual property rights, energy, investment and market access.

The full text of the agreement has not yet been made public, leading to widespread apprehension, said farmer leader and “Desh Bachao Morcha” coordinator Sarwan Singh Pandher. “The US has long been demanding better access to India’s agriculture and dairy sector. Any reduction in import duties on agricultural and dairy products could adversely affect Indian farmers, milk producers and small industries,” Pandher said.

“We urge the central government to prioritize the interests of farmers, workers, small traders, small industries and India’s economic and food sovereignty and refrain from implementing any deal that is against the interests of the people,” he said.

In Punjab, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), Azad Kisan Morcha, Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Organization and Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) (Boka Singh Mansa) took part in motorcycle rallies across the state, according to Mr. Pandher. In Haryana, BKU (Chaduni), Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Morcha Haryana, BKU Shaheed Bhagat Singh and other organizations participated in the protests. In Uttar Pradesh, the “MSP (Minimum Support Price) Dilao Morcha” held marches, while similar events were also held in Uttarakhand. In Himachal Pradesh, 27 farmers’ organizations organized marches, Mr. Pandher said.

“If our concerns continue to be ignored and the agreement is taken forward, the nationwide movement will intensify. We will hold a ‘maha rally’ in New Delhi on July 21 as part of this campaign,” the farmer leader said.

Published – 16 Jul 2026 03:00 IST