Bathinda: The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Saturday called for coordinated nationwide protests if the Centre goes ahead with signing the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which it claimed would harm small producers and the domestic economy.Appreciating the growing unity among farmer organisations on the issue, SKM alleged that the FTA would “pauperise petty producers” and push India into a corporate-dominated global trade order. It termed the proposed pact a “blueprint for recolonisation”.The outfit said various farmer bodies have agreed to join hands against the agreement. It urged like-minded farmers’ and agricultural workers’ organisations to be ready for synchronised mass protests across the country on the day after the FTA is signed.Referring to its earlier call to mark Aug 10 as a protest day following Quit India Day, SKM said actions such as rail roko, rasta roko and jail bharo would be planned at the state level.The forum also reiterated demands for a legal guarantee of MSP at C2+50% with assured procurement, a comprehensive loan waiver, and rollback of free trade agreements, among others.
