Farmers burn PM Modi’s effigy in Ferozepur, protest India-US trade deal
Ferozepur, July 22, 2026: Responding to a call by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), farmers and representatives of several farmer and employees' organisations staged a protest outside the office of the BJP District President in Ferozepur on Tuesday, opposing the proposed India–US trade agreement and expressing solidarity with students protesting in Delhi and Chandigarh.
As a mark of protest against what they termed government repression, the demonstrators also burned an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The demonstration witnessed participation from the Krantikari Kisan Union Punjab, BKU Ekta Dakaunda (Burjgil), BKU Sidhupur, BKU Qadian, BKU Malwa Hirkay, BKU Mansa, Punjab Pensioners Association (PSPCL), BKU Bamb, and other organisations. Protesters raised slogans against the Central Government and demanded the withdrawal of what they described as anti-farmer policies.
Addressing the gathering, farmer leader Avtar Singh Mehma alleged that the proposed duty-free trade agreement with the United States would adversely affect Indian agriculture and the national economy. He demanded that the agreement be scrapped immediately.
The protesters also reiterated their long-pending demands, including a legal guarantee for the procurement of all 23 crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP) based on the Swaminathan Commission's C2+50% formula, making purchases below MSP a punishable offence, withdrawal of the Seeds Bill 2025 and the Electricity Amendment Bill 2025, halting the installation of chip-based smart electricity meters, rejecting the proposed National Agricultural Marketing Policy, complete waiver of farmers' and agricultural labourers' loans, and implementation of a one-time settlement scheme for cooperative and land mortgage bank loans.
Following the protest, SKM members expressed solidarity with protesters demonstrating at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, and with students of Panjab University, Chandigarh, who are opposing the alleged saffronisation of the university. As a mark of protest against what they termed government repression, the demonstrators also burned an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Among those who addressed the gathering were Suraj Prakash Bajeke, Lakhwinder Singh Bhullar, Gurmel Singh, Prakash Singh Vasti, Dalwinder Singh Sherkhan, Channan Singh Kamgar, Rashpal Singh Hajiwala, Gurcharan Singh Komal, Jasbir Singh Bhullar and Dr. Pradeep Rana.