Farmer leader Dallewal raises concerns over employment, US deportation issues at Khanauri Maha Panchayat
PTC Web Desk: In a powerful address lasting five minutes and 26 seconds from his trolley, farmer leader jagjit Singh Dallewal spoke at the Kisan Mahapanchayat at Khanauri on Wednesday, raising critical issues related to employment, agriculture, and the recent deportation of Indian citizens from the United States.
Dallewal’s speech centered around four key points, highlighting the urgent need for government intervention to strengthen the agricultural sector and provide adequate employment opportunities within the country.
Dallewal began his speech by expressing heartfelt gratitude to all farmers, labourers, and people from various categories who participated in the Maha Panchayat, contributing to its success. He then raised a crucial issue concerning the recent deportation of 104 Indians from the United States, out of which more than 30 belonged to Punjab and Haryana. “The question arises as to why they had to leave in such a manner. The primary reason is the lack of employment opportunities in our country, which forces our youth to seek livelihoods abroad,” said Dallewal.
According to Dallewal, the current unemployment crisis is driving Indian youth to migrate to other countries, risking deportation and other legal challenges. He said the lack of employment within India was the root cause of this issue.
Highlighting the potential of the agricultural sector, Dallewal argued that it is the most capable sector for generating employment. He stated, “If the agricultural sector in our country were strong and profitable, our youth wouldn’t need to go abroad in search of jobs.”
He further pointed out that the ongoing struggle for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) is crucial to safeguarding the interests of farmers. Dallewal demanded a legal guarantee for MSP based on the C2 50 formula proposed by Dr MS Swaminathan, stating, “If farmers receive a fair price for their crops, agriculture can become the largest source of employment in the country.”
Dallewal also expressed concern over reports suggesting that the United States is planning to deport over 200 more Indian youth, calling it a “painful reality” linked to the lack of opportunities in India’s agricultural sector.
Farmer leader Dallewal urged the government to strengthen the agricultural sector to provide employment within the country, reducing the need for youth to migrate abroad. He highlighted a concerning statistic, revealing that India faced a deficit of Rs 14.78 lakh crore in import-export within the past year. He attributed this economic loss to the lack of MSP, which he argued is causing significant financial hardship for farmers.
“Such enormous losses make agriculture an unprofitable venture. This fight is not just about MSP; it is about securing the future of our youth and creating employment opportunities within the country,” Dallewal said, appealing to farmers, labourers, and citizens to support the ongoing movement for agricultural reforms.
Dallewal urged the government to extend a helping hand to the youth who have been deported. He criticised both the central and Punjab governments for their inaction, stating, “Neither the central government nor the Punjab government has taken any steps to support these deported youth. This is extremely unfortunate.”
He appealed to the government to take immediate measures to support the affected families and to implement policies that would generate employment within India. Dallewal also urged farmers to strengthen their movement, saying, “This fight is about safeguarding the future of our youth and ensuring they have employment opportunities within our country.”
- PTC NEWS
