Overview

• Thousands of farmers and union members marched in over 40 districts, staging effigy burnings in Indore and dozens of surrounding villages to dramatize their opposition to the tariff hike.
• Protesters set ablaze effigies and posters of President Donald Trump to condemn the White House decision to raise duties on Indian imports to 50 percent from August 27.
• United Kisan Morcha, Samyukt Kisan Morcha and central trade unions coordinated the actions to demand withdrawal of the U.S. tariffs and scrapping of free trade agreements seen as favoring corporate interests.
• Demonstrators urged authorities to implement farm relief measures, including loan waivers, Swaminathan Commission minimum-support-price recommendations and safeguards for local grain markets.
• Organizers said the grassroots mobilization is intended to bolster India’s negotiating leverage ahead of high-stakes talks with the United States later this month.