Bhopal, Feb 23 — Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will address a major farmers’ convention in Madhya Pradesh’s capital Bhopal on February 23. The event, known as the Kisan Mahapanchayat, is expected to draw over 100,000 farmers from across the state and is being held at Atal Path in the Jawahr Chowk area.

Significance of the Rally

The Kisan Mahapanchayat is more than a political event; it represents a key moment in the ongoing debate over the India-US trade deal. The rally is expected to galvanize rural support for the Congress party and signal a broader movement against the proposed trade agreement.

Madhya Pradesh Congress media in-charge and former minister Mukesh Nayak said the event will begin around 2 pm with the arrival of Kharge and Gandhi. Two large domes have been set up at the venue, with a massive stage where nearly 250 leaders and office-bearers are expected to sit.

Nayak emphasized that the rally will be crucial for Congress workers in the state and will set the tone for a change in Madhya Pradesh. He noted that the people of the state are “fed up with the corruption and anarchy of the BJP for over 20 years.”

Farmers’ Concerns and Trade Deal Implications

Congress MLA Umang Singhar, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, highlighted concerns over the potential impact of the trade deal on farmers. He warned that soybean farmers may face lower prices due to import pressures, while cotton farmers in the Malwa and Nimar regions could suffer losses.

Singhar said the Kisan Mahapanchayat is being organized in support of farmers and to raise awareness about what the Congress has termed the “anti-farmer implications” of the trade deal.

As part of the preparations, AICC general secretary and in-charge for Madhya Pradesh Congress, Harish Choudhary, held a discussion with local traders on the India-US trade deal. During the meeting, Choudhary claimed that the proposed trade deal allows the import of maize straw, while the previous 16 per cent tariff on soybean oil has been reduced to 0 per cent.

Choudhary added that this change will pose a serious threat to all soybean-related industries. It will also have a profound impact on the cotton and textile industries, which are the largest employment-generating sectors in the country.

BJP’s Response and Political Rhetoric

Leaders from the ruling BJP, including Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, responded strongly to the Congress’s campaign. Yadav claimed that neither the Congress at the state nor the national level had done as much for farmers as the current government.

He stated that the BJP administration has undertaken more work in its tenure than Congress did in decades. He accused the Congress of misrepresenting facts and urged Rahul Gandhi to “apologise” for what he described as misleading statements about farmers.

The Kisan Mahapanchayat is expected to set the stage for further political mobilization by the Congress in the run-up to the upcoming elections. The event will also be closely watched by agricultural communities and trade analysts, who are monitoring the potential economic effects of the India-US trade deal.

The rally highlights the growing tension between the two major political parties over agricultural policies and trade agreements. With over 100,000 farmers expected to attend, the event will serve as a platform for the Congress to highlight its stance on protecting India’s agricultural sector from what it claims are adverse effects of the proposed trade deal.