Farmers, tenant farmers, agricultural labourers, workers, and public associations under the NTR District Farmers, Tenants Workers, Agricultural Labourers, People’s United Forum staged a dharna at Dharna Chowk, Vijayawada, on Wednesday, burning an effigy of U.S. President Donald Trump.
They demanded that corporates be kept out of agriculture, the immediate withdrawal of Trump’s 50% tariffs on Indian exports, scrapping of free trade agreements (FTAs), and repeal of the four labour codes. Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha national general secretary Ravula Venkayya termed the tariff move — reportedly in retaliation for India importing Russian crude — “arrogant” and sought a parliamentary debate on all FTAs.
Marking the 83rd Quit India Movement anniversary, protesters raised slogans such as “Multinational Corporations Quit India” and “Big Corporates Quit Agriculture.” Former Agriculture Minister Vadde Shobhanadreeswara Rao warned that the proposed National Agriculture Market law would end MSP and procurement.
Senior leader Y. Keshavarao criticised subsidy cuts, higher fertiliser prices, and reduced price stabilisation funds. Tenant farmers’ leader P. Jamalaih opposed FTA clauses enabling dairy and poultry imports, while Congress Kisan Cell chief Kaman Prabhakar Rao opposed forced farmland acquisition. Other leaders, including D. Harinath, V. Krishnayya, and M. Venkata Reddy, called for regulation of subsidised agricultural imports.
The dharna was chaired by Malnidi Yellamanda Rao and P.V. Anjaneyulu.
Published – August 13, 2025 11:37 pm IST
