Farm leaders and Rahul Gandhi discussed the need for a large-scale national movement to oppose the trade deal and protect the livelihoods of farmers and farm workers, the Congress said. | Photo credit: The Hindu
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday (February 13, 2026) met farm union leaders from across the country at the Parliament House complex during which they discussed the need for a nationwide movement against the India-US Interim Trade Agreement and also to protect the livelihood of farmers and farm labourers.
During the meeting, farm union leaders expressed their opposition to the Indo-US trade deal and expressed their deep concern for the livelihood of maize, soybean, cotton, fruit and nut farmers, the Congress said.
Mr Gandhi said the trade deal had opened the door for agricultural imports and many more crops would soon follow, according to the party.
Farm officials and Rahul Gandhi discussed the need for a large-scale national movement to oppose the deal and secure the livelihoods of farmers and farm workers.
Among the farm leaders who met Gandhi there were All India Kisan Congress Chief Sukhpal S Khaira, Ashok Balhara of Bharatiya Kisan Mazdor Union, Haryana, Baldev S Zira of BKU Krantikari, R. Nand Kumar of Progressive Farmers Front, Amarjit S Mohri of BKU Shaheed Bhagat Mana Mazgat S Morching. — India and Hameed Malik of the JK Zamidar Forum, among others.
The meeting comes a day after Mr Gandhi said the government may file a case or privilege motion against him but would stand firm with farmers. He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being “anti-farmer” and “selling out” the country through the India-US Interim Trade Agreement.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha shared a video statement on X in which he launched a scathing attack on the government over the India-US Interim Trade Agreement.
In a post in Hindi on X along with the video, Mr Gandhi said: “Fir is filed, case is registered or privilege motion is filed – I will fight for farmers.” “Any trade deal that takes away the livelihood of farmers or weakens the country’s food security is anti-farmer. We will not allow the anti-farming Modi government to compromise the interests of food suppliers,” he said.
Published – 13 Feb 2026 16:02 IST