Farmers demand India to back out from WTO summit

Farmers demand India to back out from WTO summit

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Dec 4, 2013: Various organizations staged protest in front of New Mangalore Port Trust on December 3, Tuesday demanding to back out India from the World Trade Organization (WTO) summit being held in Bali, Indonesia.

The protest was jointly organized by Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and Hasiru Sene, Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Movement, Kerala Cocount Farmers’ Association and Maharasthra Shetkari Sanghatana.

 

 

Addressing the protestors, KRRS general secretary K T Gangadhar said that import of crops from other countries to India was adversely affecting the farmers and pressurizing them to commit suicide.

He also said that if government stops subsidies as per WTO policies, then the number of farmer’s suicide will increase. Hence the government must boycott the WTO meet taking place in Bali for the benefit of farmers.

They also expressed their dissatisfaction over the limited subsidy on agriculture produce by the WTO and duty-free import of agricultural products by the Free Trade Association.

If the government stop cheap imports from countries like Brazil, then the Indian farmers will get more value for their crops, they said.

The protestors also burnt an effigy signifying WTO on the occasion.