India
‘Convince farmers to suspend protest or vacate highways,’ SC tells panel | India News – Times of India
The court directed the high-powered panel to engage with the agitating farmers and convince them to end their protest or vacate the highways.
The Supreme Court emphasized that the high-powered committee, constituted to address the grievances of farmers at the Shambhu border, had strongly advised against the use of force against the protesters.
“The committee may be the best place to convince farmers to stop for a while… The history of 1947 will provide countless examples [of Gandhian philosophy]”, said the Supreme Court.
“The main task of the committee now would be to convince farmers, without prejudice to their course of action, to deviate from the highway or suspend their movements…this harsh weather is also not good,” it added to it.
The court had formed a high-powered committee in September to hold negotiations with the farmers protesting at the Shambhu border.
The Supreme Court also expressed concern over the declining health of Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on a fast unto death.
“Force should not be used to break the protest of Punjab farmer leader Dallewal unless it is absolutely necessary to save his life,” SC said.
Since February 13, farmers affiliated with Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have stationed themselves at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana after security forces prevented their march towards Delhi.
The farmers’ demands include legal guarantee of MSP for crops, debt relief, pensions for farmers and farm workers, stable electricity tariffs, withdrawal of police cases and ‘justice’ for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
Their demands also include the restoration of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act and compensation for families of farmers who lost their lives during the 2020-2021 protest.
