TAD NewsDesk, New Delhi: Supreme Court had stepped in as there has been a dead end to the talks between the farmers and the government over the three Centre farm laws. It emphasized that it has the power to suspend the laws as it is having a mass effect on the overall sector of agriculture.
Chief Justice SA Bobde said,
“These are matters of life and death. We are concerned with laws. We are concerned with lives and property of people affected by the agitation. We are trying to solve the problem in the best way. One of the powers we have is to suspend the legislation.”
The Apex court decided to put a hold on the three controversial farm laws and set up a committee of experts to handle negotiations. This is an attempt to end the agitation of the protesting farmers for so long.
Farmers’ groups this evening said they would not accept the committee, which they said included members who had favoured the centre’s laws.
Punjab farmers’ unions very firmly said,
“We don’t accept this committee, all the members in this committee have been pro-government and these members have been justifying the laws.”
While Balbir Singh Rajewal of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (R) commented,
“We think the government is bringing this committee through the Supreme Court. The committee is just a way of divert attention.”
The representatives of the farmers unions said that they would not accept anything less than the repealing of the laws and would not take part in the discussions even if the committee members are changed.
They added,
“It’s a good thing that the implementation of laws has been put on hold. It is a welcome decision but this was our right and we will accept nothing less than the repeal of farm laws.”
The Supreme Court adviced the elderly and the women to return to their homes but they have not done so. Mr Rajewal said
“Seniors don’t want to leave the protest site. No one will leave the protest sites till the laws are repealed.”
On this coming Republic Day, the 26th of January, the farmers has decided to go ahead with the planned protest despite the Supreme Court’s notice.
The government had expressed concern about “an embarrassment to the nation” if the protests disrupted the Republic Day parade.
The Farmers unions said,
“Our 26th January programme is going to be completely peaceful. There are some people spreading rumours that we are going to the Red Fort or parliament. How the march will happen will be decided after January 15. We will never tolerate violence.”
A joint front of almost 40 farmer organisations, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, has threatened that farmers will march into Delhi on January 26 with their tractors and take out a “farmers’ Republic Day parade” after the official parade.
The farmers and the central government is at the crossroads. The government is still emphasizing that the three laws aim to modernize the Indian agricultural system while the farmers feel it would make them vulnerable among the hands of the big players with the intermediate players, Arthiyas gone out of the system. The protest in Delhi is still continuing amidst the whole freezing winter season. Farmers nationwide has joined in and there is support from the whole world which is keeping the farmers firm in their stand.
Source: NDTV
