Jammu, February 26 The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) held a day-long meeting here on Thursday to formulate an action plan to oppose the India-US interim trade deal, calling it "anti-farmer" and "anti-fruit grower," and warning that it would have a greater impact on the Union Territory than other parts of the country.
The meeting, chaired by JKPCC president Tariq Hameed Karra, was attended by senior Congress leaders from all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as AICC national general secretary and Congress Legislature Party leader G A Mir, along with MLAs, former ministers, and legislators.
Addressing the meeting, Karra said the deal would "destroy farmers and fruit growers" and negatively impact related sectors such as poultry and dairy in the Union Territory.
"The US has imposed this deal on India. For the first time, the interests of farmers have been compromised. Farmers and fruit growers in Jammu and Kashmir will be the most affected," Karra said.
Alleging that the Prime Minister has "repeatedly surrendered to the US," he accused the Centre of compromising national interests.
"This deal is against the people and against the interests of the nation. The Prime Minister is compromised and has sold the interests of farmers under external pressure," he said.
Karra announced that the party would launch a vigorous mass campaign against the deal and organize a series of farmer and fruit grower conventions across Jammu and Kashmir.
"We have invited Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to attend a fruit grower's meeting in Kashmir and a farmers' convention in Jammu next month," he said, adding that district-level programs would begin from March 1.
The PCC meeting also strongly condemned the arrest of Indian Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib, calling it "illegal, unjustified, and dictatorial".
"Peaceful protests have been criminalized under the Modi government. We will come out on the streets across Jammu and Kashmir to demand his release," Karra said.
AICC General Secretary G A Mir stressed the need to raise awareness among farmers and the general public about the implications of the deal.
"For the first time, a compromised Prime Minister has compromised the interests of farmers and the country. Our leadership is determined to protect farmers, especially in Jammu and Kashmir," Mir said.
He also condemned Chib's arrest, alleging "vendetta politics and authoritarianism" by the BJP-led Centre, and praised the Youth Congress workers for taking the lead in opposing "wrong policies".
JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla said the party would reach out to farmers to explain the "dangerous consequences" of the deal.
"The Prime Minister's repeated surrender to the US is a matter of grave concern," Bhalla said, adding, "The arrest of Uday Bhanu Chib is illegal and dictatorial."
He added that the Congress would oppose the Centre's policies "tooth and nail".