Jabalpur, April 13 (IANS) The Youth Congress on Monday organised a protest in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh against a proposed trade deal, claiming it would adversely affect farmers and labourers.

The demonstration was led by the organisation’s National President, Uday Bhanu Chib, as party workers marched towards the Collectorate to lay siege to the office.

Anticipating the protest, police had put up barricades at key locations, preventing the rally from moving forward.

A tense standoff ensued near Ghantaghar, where police resorted to water cannons to disperse the crowd.

Water cannons were used continuously for nearly half an hour, but the protesters refused to back down and continued raising slogans against the Central government.

Chib and several other Congress workers were seen forcefully crossing the police barricades during the protest.

Addressing the gathering, Chib said the proposed United States trade deal would harm farmers and labourers and was against the national interest. He added that the Youth Congress would intensify its agitation across the country, not limiting it to Madhya Pradesh.

The protesters also raised concerns about rising inflation and increasing LPG cylinder prices, and questioned the Centre’s foreign policy.

Several leaders, including MLA Lakhan Ghanghoria, participated in the demonstration along with a large number of Youth Congress workers.

Police later detained more than 100 protesters, including Chib and the state Youth Congress leadership, to bring the situation under control.

A heavy police presence remained in the area, and barricades were enforced around the Collectorate and major routes to maintain law and order.

Notably, Chib was recently arrested in New Delhi during a protest linked to the India AI Impact Summit, where Youth Congress workers had demonstrated over similar issues. He was later granted bail.

–IANS

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