Farmer groups and trade unions have called for nationwide protests on March 10, linking ongoing tensions in West Asia to concerns about economic relations between India and the United States. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), along with a joint platform of Central Trade Unions (CTUs) and several sectoral federations and associations, announced that demonstrations will be held across the country on Tuesday.
The day will witness a massive rally of farmers in Barnala, Punjab, SKM said on Saturday, PTI reported.
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Similar programs are scheduled to be implemented in other parts of the country, where farmers, agricultural workers, traders, students and women’s organizations are expected to participate.
The trade unions urged the public to observe the day as the “Day of Anti-Imperialist War for World Peace.”
Why are protests organized?
The organizations said their protest aims to raise concerns about the military conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, and its broader consequences.
“The Samyukt Kisan Morcha deeply regretted the war launched by the United States and Israel on Iran which has thrown the entire Middle East into a state of armed conflict and the entire world into a state of economic turmoil. The SKM also condemned the targeted killing of Ayatollah Khamenei, the head of a sovereign state of Iran, several senior leaders, thousands of innocent lives including 183 female students, the bombing of schools and hospitals and the torpedoing of the Iranian ship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean. The farmers’ association said in Its statement said, “The attack resulted in the death of 85 soldiers.”
The group said the conflict could have direct economic impacts on India. He pointed to the large number of Indians working in the Gulf countries and the country’s dependence on energy imports from the region.
“More than 90,000 Indian citizens, with more than 5 crore dependents, are working in Gulf countries in jobs with better wages than those available in India. Their security situations are threatened,” the statement read.
SKM also highlighted the importance of trade relations with Gulf countries. According to the organization, these countries account for 55 percent of India’s crude oil imports, and buy large quantities of Indian agricultural products such as basmati rice, buffalo meat, marine products, sugar, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
“These exports provide livelihoods to thousands of farmers, workers and small and medium enterprises in India,” the statement added.
Opposing the India-US trade framework
Besides the geopolitical issue, the protesting groups also criticized the recent economic developments between India and the United States.
SKM accused the government of “giving in to US pressure and accepting the terms of the temporary asymmetric trade framework between India and the US announced on February 6, 2026.”
Among the policies criticized by the group were the four labor laws, the GRAM-G Act, the draft electricity law, and the privatization of public sector enterprises.
The farmers’ organization also reiterated long-standing demands, including:
- Legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) based on the recommendations of the Swaminathan Committee
- Comprehensive loan waiver for farmers
Calls on India to take a stand
SKM also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel, alleging that the government ignored the killing of Palestinians in Gaza and failed to strongly condemn the killing of Iranian leadership.
Meanwhile, trade unions called for an “immediate cessation of the war on Iran and other parts of the world” and urged the Indian government to take steps to ensure the safety of Indians living in the Gulf region.
(with PTI inputs)
