AAP’s Major Protest Across Punjab Against India-US Deal; Accuses Centre of Compromising National Interests

Chandigarh(The Uttam Hindu) :

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), terming India-USA deal as “fatal” for Indian farmers and traders, held strong protests on Thursday in various districts of Punjab. Party workers fully supported the ‘Bharat Bandh’ against the policies of the Central Government and came out on the roads to register their protest.

During the protest, AAP leaders and workers held placards with slogans written against the deal and raised slogans against the Central Government. AAP accused the Central Government of compromising the nation’s interests under pressure from the United States and demanded that this deal be immediately cancelled.

Addressing the gathering, Farmers’ Wing President Mohinder Singh Sidhu said that this agreement will break the backbone of India’s agricultural system. Under this deal, the United States has been allowed to sell dairy and other agricultural products in Indian markets without any tax. This will make American products available in Indian markets at very cheap prices, and the business of our local farmers and dairy operators will come to a complete standstill.

AAP leader and Trade Wing General Secretary Ranjit Pal Singh said that this decision of the Central Government is an attack on our ‘annadata’ (food providers). On one hand, there will be no tax on American products, while on the other hand, Indian traders will have to pay up to 18% tax in the United States. This is not an equal deal.

General Secretary Satvir Singh Bakshi Wala said that this agreement is a step towards economic slavery. The Central Government has handed over the country’s economy to foreign companies. This will cause economic losses not only to farmers but to every citizen of the country. “We will go among the people and expose the Centre’s anti-people policy,” he said.