Farmers' unions refuse to engage with SC-constituted panel; anti-farm law stir to continue

In its first reaction to Supreme Court order, farmers' unions appreciated fact that apex court h declined to pass any order to stop ongoing protests. While All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) welcomed stay on implementation of farm laws, it ded repeal of farm laws is only solution as implementation can be reinstated at any point in time. Moreover, unions reiterated that y will t participate in a court-mandated committee process.

A 4-member committee comprising agricultural ecomist Ashok Gulati, BKU national president Bhupinder Singh Mann, Pramod Kumar Joshi- Director, South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute and Shetkari Sanghatana president Anil Ghanwat has been formed by SC to resolve current standoff. Casting aspersions on impartiality of panel, AIKSCC alleged that se persons have openly supported agrarian laws. Maintaining that unions have thing to do with matter in Supreme Court, statement revealed that farmers' protest on Republic Day in Delhi and or parts of country will go ahe as scheduled.

In a statement, AIKSCC remarked, "Farmers have explained in detail to government of India that 3 laws will le to corporate control over agri processing, markets. Will le to high cost of inputs, higher debts on peasants, lower crop prices, increase farmer losses, decrease govt procurement, end PDS, raise food costs, higher farmer and agri worker suicides, hunger deaths, eviction from land due to debts. Government has hidden se hard facts from people and courts." 

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Centre defends farm laws before SC

A day earlier, Centre filed a counter-affidavit before SC  to remove a "deliberate wrong impression" created by "n-farmer elements" present at protest site and to apprise SC with true facts. On behalf of Centre, Union Agriculture Minister Sanjay Agarwal stated that protests by some farmers should t be treated as a reflection on validity of  Farmers' Produce Tre and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020,  Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and  Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

He stated that following routes - Palla check post, Singhu border, Tikri border, Dhansa border, Sakoli border, Jai Singhpur Khera and Atohan Palwal leing to Delhi h been fully blocked owing to farmers' stir besides partial blocking of 4 or routes. In counter-affidavit, Agarwal elaborated Centre's consultations prior to formulating farm legislation. Explaining rationale for farm laws, he accused some farmers and unions of carrying out protests based on "apprehensions, misgivings and misconceptions" created by some vested interests. 

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