Farm unions on SC order: ‘Will not call off protest, won’t participate in committee proceedings’

Farmer leaders on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court’s order to stay the implementation of three farm laws, but also said they would not call off their protest until the laws are repealed.

In a statement, the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) also said that they will not participate in any court-ordered committee process.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court suspended the implementation of the three farm laws until further notice and decided to set up a committee comprising experts to hear the parties and understand the ground situation.

The committee will comprise Bhupinder Singh Mann of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Anil Ghanwat of Shetkari Sanghatana, agricultural economists Ashok Gulati and Dr Pramod Kumar Joshi.

The ruling came on a batch of petitions challenging the validity of the three farm laws that were enacted last September.

The farmers body also expressed apprehensions over the members chosen for the committee. “These are people who are known for their support to the three Acts and have actively advocated for the same,” the body said.

“We had opposed yesterday itself that we will not present ourselves before a committee… all members of the committee are pro-government… cannot accept such a committee,” Balbir Singh Rajewal, BKU Rajewal state president told reporters.

“We believe committees are just a way to deviate attention,” he added.

“The farmers’ struggle on their key demands will continue as per the earlier announcement on January 13, 18, and 23. Farmers wish to interact with the govt, not engage with Supreme Court, where farmers did not present ourselves. So no comment on it, no offence to it,” AIKSCC said.

Later in the day,

Rakesh Tikait, spokesperson, Bhartiya Kisan Union on being asked about his reaction on the apex court’s order said, “Jab tak Bill wapasi nahi, ghar wapasi nahi. (Won’t return home until the bill is taken back).”

‘Stay on implementation a positive step’

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) said  they stay implemented by the Supreme Court is a welcome and positive step in the right direction to get justice for farmers.

Welcoming the move, NCP president Sharad Pawar said that the decision by the Supreme Court is a “big relief for farmers”.

A welcome decision taken by the Apex Court of India to put on hold the implementation of three farm bills and set up a four member committee to resolve the issues. #SupremeCourt #FarmLaws

— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) January 12, 2021

“It is a big relief for farmers and I hope that a concrete dialogue between Central government and farmers will be initiated now, keeping the famers interests and well being in mind,” he said in a tweet.

“We welcome this decision. Finally, the Supreme Court has intervened and taken a bold stand. The NCP stood by the agitating farmers in Delhi from day one,” Maharashtra NCP president Jayant Patil said.

Hon’ble Supreme Court’s stay on implementation of #FarmLaws is a welcome & positive step in the right direction to get Justice for our farmers.

Central Government must now stop their rigid ways of functioning, accept their mistake and rectify it.

— Nawab Malik ???? ??? ???? ???? (@nawabmalikncp) January 12, 2021

NCP national spokesperson Nawab Malik also lauded the step. In a tweet, he wrote, “Hon’ble Supreme Court’s stay on implementation of farm laws is a welcome and positive step in the right direction to get Justice for our farmers. Central Government must now stop their rigid ways of functioning, accept their mistake and rectify it.”

Decision not against merit of laws: BJP

The BJP said the decision by the Supreme Court is not against the merit of the new laws and that they themselves had suggested the formation of a committee for discussions.