Chandigarh, June 24 (H.S.): Farmers' anger against the proposed India-US trade deal came to the fore in Punjab on wednesday as farmer organizations staged large-scale protests across 21 districts of the state. Protest marches were organized against the Central Government, while demonstrators at several places burnt effigies of the Central Government and US President Donald Trump.

In Amritsar, hundreds of farmers led by farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher gathered outside the BJP office and raised slogans against the proposed trade agreement. Farmer leaders alleged that preparations are underway to implement the deal by the end of July without consulting farmers, agricultural labourers, and other stakeholders.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that if the trade deal is implemented, farmers, farm labourers, and people associated with the dairy sector across the country, including Punjab, may suffer economic losses. He stated that opening markets to foreign products would increase pressure on the domestic agriculture and dairy sectors, adversely affecting farmers' incomes.

On the call of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, protests were held in Amritsar, Bathinda, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Mansa, Moga, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Pathankot, Patiala, Rupnagar, Mohali, Sangrur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, and Tarn Taran. Demonstrations were also held outside BJP offices and the residences of BJP leaders at several locations.

During the protests, farmer leaders warned the Central Government that if the India-US trade deal is not withdrawn, the agitation would be intensified. They said farmers are prepared to fight at every level to protect the interests of agriculture and the farming community.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH