Opposition MPs Stage Parliament Protest Over India-US Trade Deal and Labour Codes
In a significant display of dissent, Opposition Members of Parliament on Thursday staged a vigorous protest within the Parliament complex, vehemently opposing the India-US interim trade agreement. The lawmakers accused the Modi government of capitulating to foreign pressure and surrendering core Indian interests, while simultaneously expressing solidarity with trade unions participating in a nationwide bandh against the newly-notified Labour Codes.
Parliament Entrance Turns Into Protest Venue
Senior Opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, TR Baalu, Dharmendra Yadav, KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, and Sudama Prasad, led a large contingent of MPs in raising slogans at the Parliament entrance. The protestors held aloft a massive banner prominently displaying the words "trap deal" and carried posters with the phrase "Narender Surrender," directly targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration.
Strong Accusations Against Government Policies
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp critique, accusing the government of systematically "ignoring" the voices and concerns of workers and farmers when making pivotal decisions that directly impact their livelihoods and future. He questioned whether Prime Minister Modi would now heed the demands of these crucial sectors or if external "grip" and pressures were too dominant, a pointed reference to his recent Lok Sabha address.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge emphasized the widespread discontent, stating, "All the country's trade unions, farmers, and workers have taken to the streets in opposition to the Modi government's controversial trade deal, the new labour laws, and what we see as the systematic snatching away of MGNREGA benefits." He added with resolve, "We stand firmly against this anti-people Trap Deal, which we believe has effectively mortgaged the future of millions of toiling farmers, workers, and labourers. By succumbing to foreign pressure, the Modi government has recklessly tampered with the lives of crores of Indian citizens."
Support for Nationwide Labour Strike
The parliamentary protest was strategically timed to coincide with the trade unions' nationwide bandh, with Opposition MPs explicitly lending their support to the industrial action. MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra articulated the concerns, stating, "This government is betraying our farmers. The nature of the trade deal they have signed is poised to result in immense suffering for the agricultural community. Today, we stand in full support of the labour unions and their strike, amplifying their fight for justice."
Kharge further declared the Opposition's unwavering commitment, asserting, "Our struggle is relentless and will continue unabated—from the streets right into the halls of Parliament. We will not relent until the voices of the people are heard and their interests protected." The protest underscores deepening political tensions over economic policies, with the Opposition framing the trade deal and labour reforms as detrimental to national sovereignty and the welfare of common citizens.
