Political temperatures are rising in India as Congress unleashes a nationwide salvo against the India-US trade pact, prioritizing farmers’ woes. A key strategy session Friday, presided over by president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, greenlit mass contact programs across multiple states.
Jairam Ramesh, General Secretary for Communications, detailed the offensive to the press. The curtain-raiser is a Bhopal farmers’ conclave on February 24, headlined by top leaders. Yavatmal hosts the next on March 7, with Sriganganagar rounding out the early slate.
‘Forced under duress, this deal spells doom for cotton, soybean, maize, fruit, and dry fruit growers,’ Ramesh charged. Focus states include J&K, Himachal, Bihar, MP, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra, with nationwide escalation planned. Drawing from the farm laws’ prolonged resistance, Congress commits to farmer alliances for awareness drives.
Kharge’s X post was scathing: a ‘trap deal’ where Modi surrendered farmers’ futures, the second after Operation Sindoor’s shock halt on May 10, 2025. Attendees spanned party secretaries, state heads, and Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
This calculated outreach aims to pierce rural hearts, questioning the deal’s fine print and import threats. As Congress amplifies its voice, it positions itself as agriculture’s sentinel against perceived policy missteps. The coming weeks will test the campaign’s reach and resonance in shaping public discourse on trade and tenure.