Punjab Farmers Mobilise for Mahapanchayat in Delhi Against India‑US Trade Pact

At the crack of dawn on Sunday, a convoy of tractors, tractors‑mounted trucks and a sea of saffron‑topped hats rolled out of Punjab’s heartland, bound for Delhi’s Kisan Ghat. The destination? A Mahapanchayat slated for July 21, called by the Desh Bachao Morcha, and billed as the first big step in what organisers call a "nation‑wide farmers’ movement" against a looming India‑US trade pact.

Organisers claim that more than five‑hundred farmer unions and social organisations from across India will converge on the capital. While the exact head‑count remains fuzzy – as it always does with mass gatherings – the crowd is expected to swell well beyond a few thousand, echoing the scale of past farmer protests.

Germanjit Singh Bandala, a senior voice of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (Punjab), was blunt in his assessment. "The proposed trade agreement is a straight‑jacket for our small‑holder farmers," he said, gesturing toward the rows of tractors behind him. "American farmers operate on massive acreage, backed by deep pockets and generous subsidies. Our peasants, with an average holding of just two to two‑and‑a‑half acres, simply cannot compete if cheap US grain floods our markets."

Bandala warned that the impact would not stay confined to the fields. He argued that lower‑priced imports could undercut not only farm incomes but also the myriad small traders and cottage‑industry workers whose livelihoods are intertwined with agriculture. "It’s not just about wheat or cotton," he added, "it’s about the whole rural economy – from the milkman in a village square to the dealer selling seeds in a town bazaar."

The farmer leaders also hinted at a backup plan. Should authorities try to block the Mahapanchayat, they pledged to hold “peaceful demonstrations wherever they are stopped.” In other words, the Delhi gathering is being framed as a launchpad for a broader, possibly prolonged agitation, should the centre refuse to withdraw the trade deal.

Critics of the proposed pact argue that past Indian governments have kept a protective fence around the agricultural sector, shielding it from volatile global market forces. Bandala contended that the current push for the agreement is being driven more by pressure from Washington than by any genuine benefit to Indian producers.

As the convoy nears the capital, the atmosphere is charged with a mixture of resolve and anxiety. Farmers clutch placards bearing slogans like "Save our farms" and "No to US imports," while some older participants pause to share family stories of drought‑ridden seasons and the hope that a fair policy could finally turn the tide.

Whether the Mahapanchayat will indeed spark a larger movement remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that a sizable chunk of Punjab’s agrarian community is willing to travel hundreds of kilometres, endure the heat of July, and make their voices heard at the heart of Indian politics – all in the name of protecting their land, their labour and their future.