Farmers' Massive Show of Strength in Chandigarh: Protest Against India-US Trade Deal and Land Pooling Policy

Farmers associated with the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) organized a massive bike rally in Chandigarh to protest against several government policies. Gathering in large numbers under the banners of various farmer organizations, they raised their voices against the proposed India-US trade deal, the Punjab government's land pooling policy, rising inflation, and the lack of a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Leading the protest, farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal stated that the proposed India-US trade deal would be disastrous for Indian farmers. He argued that 86 percent of Indian farmers cultivate on less than five acres of land and cannot compete with US farmers who operate on thousands of acres and receive massive government subsidies. Rajewal warned that the deal would flood the Indian market with cheap American agricultural products, heavily damaging local farmers, small traders, and laborers.

Strongly opposing the Punjab government's land pooling policy, Rajewal claimed it is designed to benefit corporate developers and the real estate sector at the expense of small farmers' land rights. The farmers also expressed their anger over soaring inflation (fuel, cooking gas, and fertilizers) and accused both the Central government (PM Modi) and the Punjab government (CM Bhagwant Mann) of adopting anti-farmer policies.

The protesters highlighted that Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with countries like the US, Australia, and New Zealand pose a severe threat to India's dairy sector. Pointing to foreign pressure, specifically mentioning US President Donald Trump, farmer leaders accused the central government of prioritizing international trade pacts over domestic agricultural interests.

Furthermore, the farmers reiterated their stance on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, asserting Punjab's sole right over the waters of the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers. They condemned the blocking of national highways and the use of tear gas by the Haryana government to stop farmers from marching to Delhi, defending their constitutional right to peaceful protest. Reaffirming their unity under the SKM banner, the farmer leaders warned of intensifying their agitation if their demands remain unaddressed.