Gurnam Singh Charuni warns against Indo-US trade deal

Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) national convener Gurnam Singh Charuni will inaugurate the Kisan Mahapanchayat at Plachimada near Palakkad on Sunday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) national convenor Gurnam Singh Charuni said farmers across the country would unite to prevent the Center from signing the proposed India-US trade deal, which he said would hand over the country’s agriculture sector to the United States.

Inaugurating the Kisan Mahapanchayat at Plachimada near here on Sunday, Mr. Charuni said the agreement will allow unrestricted imports and will affect not only agriculture but also small businesses, fisheries, poultry and dairy sectors.

He said the farmers’ organization would launch a nationwide protest against the deal. The protest programs will be announced at the Kisan Mahapanchayat scheduled to be held in Kurukshetra, Haryana, on November 25.

Mr. Charuni reminded the Center that it was forced to withdraw from the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement following public protests. He said the government should remember this experience before proceeding with the India-US trade deal.

Farm organizations have expressed concern that the proposed deal could expose domestic producers to subsidized US agricultural imports and weaken the livelihoods of farmers and small traders. They also demanded the protection of import tariffs and subsidies and the abolition of unequal trade agreements.

Rights activist Vilayodi Venugopal presided over the function. General Secretary of Desiya Karshaka Samajam Muthalamthodu Mani delivered the keynote address.

KV Biju, national coordinator of the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh, released a pamphlet against the trade deal. B. Nair, State President of the organization welcomed the gathering.

Coimbatore Nandakumar, John Joseph, Isa Bin Abdul Kareem, Sunny Prakash, Jinnette Mathew, Rajer Sebastian, Aramel S., PJ John Master, Shiva Ganesh, Shaji Edifice, Abdul Razik, Sunny Thundathil, Mukundan KV and Shaji Thundathil were among those who spoke.

Published – 02 Nov 2026 21:25 IST