By Special Correspondent
Bhopal: A massive public meeting was organised on Tuesday at Atal Path in Bhopal under the banner of the Congress ‘Kisan Mahachaupal’ to protest against the proposed India–US trade agreement. After addresses by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, several senior state leaders spoke to the assembled farmers.
Jeetu Patwari alleged that the trade pact was a personal understanding between Narendra Modi and Donald Trump, claiming it harmed India’s interests and would prove like an “arrow” piercing farmers’ livelihoods. He recalled Gandhi’s earlier warnings on demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax, asserting they had later proved correct, and criticised the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. He also referred to the eventual repeal of the farm laws after prolonged protests.
Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar raised concerns over Minimum Support Price, stating that despite its introduction during Congress rule in the 1960s, the present government had failed to safeguard farmers’ interests. He cited the 2008 farm loan waiver under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as evidence of Congress commitment.
Several senior Congress figures, MPs, MLAs and party office-bearers were present at the rally.
Among those present on the occasion were state in-charge Harish Chaudhary, PCC chief Jeetu Patwari, Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Hemant Katare, co-in-charge Sanjay Dutt and co-in-charge Ranvijay Lochav.
CWC members Kamleshwar Patel and Omkar Markam, national media department chairman Pawan Khera, former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha, Ashok Singh, former MP Nakul Nath, former Leaders of the Opposition Ajay Singh and Govind Singh, former Assembly Speaker Narmada Prasad Prajapati and former Deputy Speaker Hina Kawre also attended.
Former Union Ministers Kantilal Bhuria and Arun Yadav, former Ministers Sajjan Singh Verma, PC Sharma, Tarun Bhanot, Sukhdev Panse and Jaivardhan Singh were present.
Also in attendance were Tribal Congress national president Vikrant Bhuria, state media department president Mukesh Nayak, organisation general secretary Dr Sanjay Kamle, AICC secretary Kunal Choudhary, AICC in-charge Tanuj Punia, city district president Praveen Saxena, rural district president Anokhi Patel, SC department president Pradeep Ahirwar, Tribal Congress president Ramu Tekam, State Women’s Congress president Reena Borasi, Kisan Congress state president Dharmendra Singh Chouhan, OBC department president Siddharth Kushwaha, NSUI state president Ashutosh Chouksey and Youth Congress state president Yash Ghanghoria, along with MLAs, former MLAs, Assembly in-charges, district presidents and numerous party workers.
