By Tripura24 News Desk | Agartala
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
AGARTALA: On the eve of the historic nationwide general strike, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) Tripura State Committee organized a massive protest rally in the capital today. The demonstration, which saw hundreds of farmers and agricultural workers march through the heart of the city, was a loud call to protect India’s economic sovereignty and agricultural interests from “imperialist” trade agreements.
Focus on ‘National Sovereignty’ and Trade Deals
Addressing the gathering at Paradise Chowmuhani, senior Left leader and former minister Shri Pabitra Kar launched a blistering attack on the Central Government’s recent trade framework with the United States, Britain, and the European Union.
The SKM leaders alleged that the government is compromising the self-respect and livelihood of Indian farmers by agreeing to zero-percent import tariffs on American agricultural products.
“The sovereignty of our nation is under threat. By signing these free trade agreements (FTAs), the government is allowing the dumping of subsidized American crops—like soybean, maize, and dairy—into our markets. This will destroy the domestic price of our own crops. We demand the immediate cancellation of these deals,” Shri Pabitra Kar stated in his address.
A Call for ‘Bharat Bandh’ Success
The rally served as a final mobilization for the February 12 Nationwide General Strike. The SKM, in coordination with central trade unions, emphasized that the struggle is now beyond just wages; it is about the “survival of the peasantry.”
Key demands highlighted during the rally:
- Cancel Indo-US Trade Deals: Immediate withdrawal from the interim trade framework that allegedly favors American multinationals.
- Legal Guarantee for MSP: Enactment of a law ensuring Minimum Support Price based on the Swaminathan Commission’s $C2+50\%$ formula.
- Protect MGNREGA: Immediate withdrawal of the VB-G RAM G Act 2025 and restoration of the original MGNREGA with 200 days of work and higher wages.
- Scrap New Acts: Opposition to the Draft Seed Bill and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, which the leaders claim will hand over the farming sector to corporate giants.
“The Country is Not for Sale”
Pabitra Kar further criticized the timing of the trade concessions, noting that while the US and EU maintain high subsidies for their own farmers, they are forcing India to open its borders for “corporate looting.” He warned that if the government does not listen to the voice of the streets tomorrow, the movement will escalate into a “long haul” of pan-India struggles.
The rally concluded with the symbolic burning of copies of the proposed trade agreements, signaling the farmers’ resolve to resist any policy that turns India into a “dumping ground” for foreign goods.
As Agartala prepares for tomorrow’s strike, the SKM has appealed to all sections of society—students, youth, and the middle class—to stay indoors and support the shutdown to “save the spine of the nation.”
