Protesting Farmer Unions Reject Supreme Court’s Suggestion Of A Committee To Resolve Ongoing Impasse

While the protesting farmer groups have welcomed the Supreme Court’s observation mulling a stay on the implementation of three farm reform laws, farmer groups have rejected the court’s suggestion of appointing a committee to resolve the ongoing impasse, reports The Hindu.

“While all organisations welcome the suggestions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court to stay the implementation of the farm laws, they are collectively and individually not willing to participate in any proceedings before a committee that may be appointed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court,” said the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), in a statement issued late on Monday.

Krantikari Kisan Union president Darshan Pal said that a committee is just a delaying tactic which the government wants. He added that the protest is against the government, so the government should face the wrath of the people, and repeal the laws.

Some farm leaders have termed the Supreme Court’s suggestion of appointing a committee as a ‘honey trap’ to lure them into a binding mediation which could be followed by clearing of the protest site.

The protesting farmer unions from Punjab are also cautious about lack of clarity regarding the composition of the suggested committee.

On Monday (11 January), the Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice S A Bobde said that the court has made up its mind to stay the implementation of the three farm laws.

After the hearing on farm laws concluded on Monday (11 January), the Centre hurriedly filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, stating that the legislations were not hurriedly made but are the result of two decades of deliberations, and their repeal is not justifiable or acceptable.

The apex court is scheduled to pronounce its order on a bunch of petitions over the farmers' protests on Tuesday (12 January).