New Delhi is buzzing with political activity as the Congress party gears up for a massive nationwide outreach against the controversial India-US trade agreement. In a strategic meeting chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, top leaders decided to kick off a series of farmer conferences starting February 24 in Bhopal.
Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh addressed the media post-meeting, outlining the party’s firm stance. ‘This deal, struck under pressure, will hit cotton, soybean, maize, fruit, and nut farmers hardest,’ he warned. The initial phase targets Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra, with plans to expand across India.
The Bhopal event will feature speeches from Kharge and Gandhi, followed by rallies in Yavatmal, Maharashtra on March 7, and Sriganganagar, Rajasthan later in March. Ramesh drew parallels to the year-long farmers’ protests against the three farm laws, vowing similar solidarity with farmer unions to expose the deal’s dangers.
Kharge slammed the agreement on social media platform X, calling it a ‘trap deal’ that betrays farmers’ interests. He accused PM Modi of a second ‘surrender,’ referencing the abrupt halt of Operation Sindoor on May 10, 2025, as the first. Party leaders from key states, including Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, attended the crucial huddle.
This campaign marks Congress’s aggressive push to connect with rural voters, highlighting economic threats from the trade pact. As protests unfold, expect heightened debates on agricultural policies and India’s trade future. The opposition’s move could reshape the political landscape ahead of upcoming elections.