Farmers Hold Nationwide Protests Against RCEP

The widespread protests by hundreds of farmers across the country against the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) went unnoticed by and large.

- KV Kurmanath

Key agricultural States such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Haryana have witnessed protests by farmers, who demanded India stay out of the economic pact.

As the negotiations enter the crucial, concluding phase next week, the farmers want the Centre to refrain from signing the RCEP agreement. In case they go ahead, the Government should keep agriculture out of the RCEP purview, the said.

Farmers’ unions, intellectuals, and non-governmental organisations working in the agricultural and allied fields have formed the All-India Kisan Sangarsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) to organise and coordinate the protests.