New Delhi, Jun 17 (PTI) The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday warned the Centre against signing a proposed Free Trade Agreement with the United States and called upon farmers across the country to prepare for a nationwide protest the day after such a pact is signed.

The decision was taken at the SKM National Council meeting held here, which also announced a nationwide agitation on August 10 to press for a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) at C2 plus 50 per cent with assured procurement, repeal of free trade agreements and a comprehensive farm loan waiver.

The C2 plus 50 per cent formula is an agricultural pricing standard recommended by the Swaminathan Commission to determine a fair MSP for crops in India. C2 stands for Comprehensive Cost.

The farmers' body said state coordination committees and member organisations would decide the form and venue of protests in the event of the government signing the India-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

As part of the campaign, the SKM will observe August 10 as a nationwide protest day, with programmes such as rail roko, rasta roko and jail bharo to be organised across states. It said details of the agitation would be finalised by its state units and constituent organisations.

The SKM alleged that the government had declared a "falsified" MSP in the interests of US agri-business multinationals and domestic corporate groups, while weakening procurement systems and facilitating corporate control over Food Corporation of India storage infrastructure and silos.

The farmers' body also announced protests against rising prices and alleged black marketing of urea, diesel and cooking gas.

It reiterated demands for a rural employment guarantee of 200 days of work annually with wages of Rs 600 per day and an increase in minimum wages for casual migrant workers to Rs 26,000 per month.

To chalk out the next phase of its campaign, the SKM will hold an all-India convention in New Delhi on July 28, bringing together state and district-level leaders.

The organisation also announced a National Convention of Workers and Farmers on July 29 at Talkatora Stadium in Delhi, in coordination with Central trade unions.

It further decided to convene a special session on water rights and the growing water crisis to formulate an updated policy and action plan.

A resolution was adopted supporting the demand of student organisations for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET paper leak issue.

The SKM also extended support to the ongoing agitations in Hisar over water scarcity, protests against a proposed nuclear power plant project in Chhindwara, and tribal movements in Odisha opposing land acquisition.

The meeting was presided over by the organisation's leaders, including Hannan Mollah, Darshan Pal and Sunilam. PTI AO RUK RUK

Minimum Support Price guarantee and trade pact opposition drive a nationwide farmers' protest campaign. Opposition to the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement centred on demands for a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price at C2 plus 50 per cent with assured procurement, repeal of free trade agreements, and a comprehensive farm loan waiver. The campaign also included planned nationwide protest action, protest forms to be by state bodies, and related demands on rural employment, wages, water rights and other local agitations.