Farmers' Unions from hill states announce July 9 protest against possible zero-tariff deal with U.S.
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh)[India], June 23(ANI): Farmer unions and apple growers from Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand have jointly declared a nationwide strike on July 9 to protest against the possible inclusion of agricultural produce under a zero-tariff framework reportedly being discussed between India and the United States.
Concerns among farmers have intensified following reports that the US has set a July 9 deadline for India to accept the proposal. Growers fear that allowing duty-free imports of apples and other commodities would gravely impact local producers in the hill states.
At a meeting held in Shimla on Monday, various horticultural organisations from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir came together. They expressed apprehensions that the government's negotiations may compromise the interests of local growers.
Former MLA and convener of the Himachal Pradesh Sanyukt Kisan Manch, Rakesh Singha, said that fruit producers from Himachal and the All India Kisan and Mazdoor organisations will participate in the nationwide protest on July 9.
Speaking to ANI, Rakesh Singha said, 'The July 9 protest is being supported at the all-India level by farmers and workers' unions. In Himachal Pradesh, fruit growers' unions and the All India Farmers and Producers Federation will also join. Our main demands include protecting farmers from the ongoing efforts to dispossess them of their land, opposing the proposed abolition of import duties, and ensuring a petition is filed in the Himachal Pradesh High Court against land evictions.'
He also criticised the Central government for discontinuing the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) in Himachal Pradesh, stating that funds had stopped coming from Delhi.
'This is a battle not just about import duties, but about saving livelihoods. The MIS used to support apple growers but is now defunct because the Centre is not releasing the funds,' Singha added.
Voicing similar concerns, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, MLA from the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly, said all farmers in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir are united on their issues.
'Farmers from Himachal and Jammu & Kashmir are united in this struggle. Fruit growers are already facing challenges in the market. Now, there are reports that the U.S. is pushing for agricultural goods to be brought under zero-duty tariffs. We are demanding an increase in customs duties, not their abolition. This is our own produce, grown through hard labour, and it deserves a fair opportunity in the domestic market,' Tarigami said.He said the issue must be viewed in the larger context of inflation, declining wages, and the deteriorating condition of workers across industries.
Tarigami added, 'Whether it's daily wagers or industrial workers, the working class is struggling. Trade unions will also be part of this national strike to demand an increase in minimum wages.'
The Apple Federation of India has also called for unity among apple growers in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, stating that the fight for farmers' rights has now become a collective battle that cuts across geographies and regions.
Yousuf Tarigami said,' We want our Members of Parliament to raise these issues in the Parliament. From the Prime Minister to every elected representative, they are all answerable to the people. If people are suffering and the Cabinet or Prime Minister ignores these demands, it will be a betrayal of public trust.'
Tarigami asserted,'We will knock on every door, from the Prime Minister to Parliament to protect our rights. Our geography and climate may differ slightly, but our pain and struggles are the same. All farmers are united in this cause. This is a fight to save our orchards, our land, and our livelihoods.'
The farmers' bodies have resolved to organise mass mobilisations and have appealed to all opposition parties and parliamentarians to intervene immediately in the interest of hill agriculture. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
22 minutes ago
- India Gazette
"India today has become leader of digital world," says Jyotiraditya Scindia at World WiFi Day program in Delhi
New Delhi [India], June 24 (ANI): Union Minister for Communications and Development of the Northeastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday highlighted India's growing digital strength and achievements in telecom technology. Scindia said the World Wi-Fi Day is important because it highlights how Wi-Fi removes barriers to information and empowers people. Addressing the programme, Jyotiraditya Scindia said, 'On this World Wi-Fi Day, let me first of all congratulate you all. It's a day that must be celebrated across the world. Because it is a day that, as I said, removes the shackles, which were once limited to access to capital, which were once limited to access to infrastructure, and now are limiting mankind from access to information.' He called Wi-Fi an invisible force that drives real change by giving people the freedom to connect, create, and grow. 'Therefore, this World Wi-Fi Day is extremely seminal. It puts into perspective a day to celebrate an invisible form of power and energy capable of powering visible change. And that truly represents the power of Wi-Fi. It is a day when we sit back and look at the capability that this energy gives us. It gives us the freedom to connect. It gives us the freedom to create. And it gives us the freedom to rise,' Scindia said. Scindia said India has joined an elite group of countries by developing its own 4G technology, thanks to collaboration between public and private companies like CDOT, Tejas, and TCS. He added that India is now a global leader in digital technology, reaching from Wi-Fi to satellite, and leading the world in digital transactions. 'Today, a public sector company like CDOT combines with a private sector company like Tejas, with an Indian SI like TCS, and we produce our own 4G stack, becoming only the fifth country in the world to have telecom technology. And India today has become the leader. We have become the leaders of the digital world across the globe,' he added. Scindia said India now accounts for 46 per cent of all digital transactions worldwide, surpassing countries like the US, China, and Europe. Highlighting the government's rural-first approach, he said that 5G use cases are being launched not in major cities, but in 13 villages across states from Andhra Pradesh to Madhya Pradesh. 'You would be amazed that 46 per cent of the digital transactions in the world happen in India. Not the US, not all of Europe, not China, but in India. But we have, as the old adage goes, miles to go before we sleep. We are not starting on 5G use cases in cities. We are starting with 5G use cases in 13 villages across the country, from Andhra Pradesh to Madhya Pradesh,' he added. (ANI)
India Gazette
22 minutes ago
- India Gazette
"Nothing but crocodile tears": Tamil Nadu CM slams centre for skewed funding favouring Sanskrit over classical languages
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 24 (ANI): A political row has erupted after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin alleged biased allocation of central funds favouring Sanskrit over other Indian classical languages, including Tamil. Citing a media report and voicing strong criticism on social media platform X, the Chief Minister wrote, 'Sanskrit gets the crores; Tamil and other South Indian languages get nothing but crocodile tears.' The criticism follows a media report that quoted the reply to an RTI query, which said that the Union Government allocated Rs 2,532.59 crore between 2014-15 and 2024-25 for the promotion of Sanskrit. In contrast, a total of only Rs 147.56 crore was spent on all five other classical Indian languages combined--Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia--over the same period, claimed the report. MH Jawahirullah, the president of Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK), alleged that the funding disparity revealed a discriminatory and biased approach by the BJP-led Union Government and called for urgent corrective measures. He said, 'This amount is 17 times higher than the total funding of 147.56 crore allocated for all five other classical languages combined, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia, according to data obtained through an RTI query, as reported by an English daily. On average, Sanskrit has received 230.24 crore per year, whereas the other five classical languages have received only 13.41 crore per year on average, revealing the Union BJP government's discriminatory and biased approach.' He urged the Centre to provide equitable funding and fair recognition for Tamil and other classical languages. 'Recently, Union Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah stated in Madurai that Tamil is the 'best language in India'. But these statistics expose that such remarks are mere lip service without substance. I urge the Union Government to immediately provide due recognition, equitable funding, and developmental programs for Tamil and all other classical languages,' he said. (ANI)
India Gazette
23 minutes ago
- India Gazette
Wi-Fi segment to be worth $22 billion by 2035 in India: Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia
New Delhi [India], June 24 (ANI): Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, in his keynote address at the World Wi-Fi Day Conference organised by the Broadband India Forum, stated that Wi-Fi will be a $22 billion segment in India by 2035, playing a transformative role in the nation's digital journey. Describing Wi-Fi as 'an invisible force capable of powering visible change,' Scindia hailed India's rapid strides in digital inclusion, noting that India now contributes 46 per cent of global digital transactions. He emphasised that connectivity is no longer a luxury, but a fundamental tool of empowerment, akin to access to capital and infrastructure in previous eras. 'Wi-Fi is not just about internet access; it's about widespread inclusion in India in the future. Every hotspot must become a hope spot,' said Scindia, outlining a vision for grassroots entrepreneurship driven by affordable devices, ubiquitous networks, and deregulated spectrum. He underscored Prime Minister Modi's vision behind PM-WANI (Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) as a game-changer that democratises digital access, especially in villages. Citing the success of India's low-cost data model, Rs 9 per GB compared to the global average of $2.49, he praised India's leadership in telecom affordability. Highlighting the recent de-licensing of the 6 GHz spectrum, the Minister said this move will enable multi-gigabit speeds and low-cost digital highways across India. Policy rules for the same will be announced before Independence Day 2025, he added. Scindia also called on industry stakeholders to innovate for affordable devices, ensuring that hardware does not become the next barrier to connectivity. 'Connectivity is not a commodity; it is an act of nation-building,' he concluded, urging collective commitment to light up every rural home, empower every aspiring mind, and fortify public services with the power of Wi-Fi. (ANI)
