Sukhpal Singh Khaira, senior Congress leader, Bholath MLA and chairman of the All India Kisan Congress, today strongly criticised the proposed Indo-US trade deal, terming it “anti-farmer” and calling it a serious threat to the agrarian economy of Punjab and the nation.Khaira said any agreement allowing increased import of subsidised agricultural products from the USA would expose Indian farmers to unfair competition since American farmers receive massive government subsidies, advanced infrastructure support and assured market protection.“Our farmers, already burdened with rising input costs, stagnant MSP expansion and mounting debt, cannot compete with heavily subsidised US agriculture. Such a treaty will push farmers into deeper financial distress,” he said.He said opening Indian markets to cheaper imported crops such as maize, soybean, dairy products and other farm commodities would lead to a collapse in domestic prices, directly hurting the income and livelihood of millions of farmers. The MLA expressed concern that the agreement may gradually weaken India’s Minimum Support Price (MSP) system and public procurement mechanism, which form the backbone of Punjab’s rural economy. Khaira demanded that the Union Government make the provisions of the agreement public and hold comprehensive consultations with farmer organisations and state governments before signing.Additionally, the Congress leader took a strong dig at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and its president Sukhbir Singh Badal, questioning the party’s silence on the matter. “The SAD claims to be a party of farmers, yet it has not uttered a single word against a treaty that threatens Punjab farmers’ survival. Their silence exposes their political opportunism and lack of commitment to the farming community,” he said. He urged the Akali leadership to clarify its stand and step forward to protect the interests of Punjab’s farmers.
