US VP Vance's India Visit Kicks Off Amidst Farmer Protests Targeting Trade Demands
New Delhi: United States Vice President JD Vance arrived in New Delhi this morning for a four-day official visit, stepping onto the tarmac at Palam airport to a formal welcome and a tri-services guard of honour. While the red carpet was rolled out by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the visit is already overshadowed by vocal dissent from Indian farmer groups deeply apprehensive about the economic implications of strengthening India-US ties, particularly concerning a proposed bilateral trade agreement.
Mr. Vance, accompanied by his wife, the Indian-American Second Lady Usha Vance, is slated for high-level talks later today, including a crucial meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The official agenda highlights discussions on 'bolstering India-US ties' and, significantly, pushing for an 'early finalisation' of the long-stalled bilateral trade pact. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are expected to participate, underscoring the strategic importance placed on these negotiations by both sides.
However, the diplomatic pleasantries and strategic talks are unfolding against a backdrop of planned nationwide demonstrations. The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), the prominent farmers' wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has called upon its units across the country to stage mass protests today, April 21st, coinciding directly with the Vice President's arrival.
The AIKS's message is stark and unambiguous: "Vance Go Back! India Is Not For Sale."
The farmer body explicitly links its opposition to the perceived pressure from the US on India to open its agricultural markets. Citing previous statements attributed to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggesting that India must liberalize its agriculture sector and that it "cannot be off the table" in trade talks, the AIKS warns that acceding to such demands could prove detrimental to millions of Indian farmers, exposing them to unfair competition from heavily subsidized American agricultural produce.
As Vice President Vance begins his engagements and moves towards the negotiating table with India's top leadership, the official narrative of a burgeoning strategic partnership appears set to collide with the palpable anxieties of a significant section of India's populace. The protests serve as a potent reminder that while governments may prioritize geopolitical alignments and trade volumes, the potential impact on livelihoods, particularly in sensitive sectors like agriculture, remains a deeply contentious issue demanding critical scrutiny. The coming days of the visit are likely to illuminate whether these domestic concerns can effectively temper the push for a swift trade agreement.
