Farmers Movement Archive

Cong. flays panel composition

While several Opposition leaders on Tuesday questioned the composition of the Supreme Court-appointed expert committee to examine the farm laws and backed the farmers’ demand for a repeal, former Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar welcomed the top court’s decision and called it a ‘big relief’. The Congress, however, pointed out that all the four members named by the top court had publicly supported the farm laws enacted by the Narendra Modi government and cannot be expected to be a “neutral arbiter”. Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi tweeted,“Can you expect justice from the people who supported the farm laws? This struggle will continue until the anti-farmer and anti-labour farm laws are repealed. Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan!” At a press conference, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, “We don’t know who gave these names to the honourable Supreme Court of India. There was a ray of hope in the manner and fashion in which the Supreme Court of India came out and stood in support of the farmers. Perhaps nobody pointed out the background of the members of the committee or the fact they stand for the implementation of these laws.” Congress ally and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief, Sharad Pawar, who held the Agriculture portfolio during the tenure of United Progressive Alliance regime, welcomed the move. “A welcome decision taken by the Supreme Court of India to put on hold the implementation of three farm Bills and set up a four-member committee to resolve the issues. 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 farmers interests and well being in mind,” Mr. Pawar said. CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said farmers had no option but to boycott the court-appointed committee. “Can anyone expect the protesting farmers demanding repeal of agri Laws to talk to such a committee? Why should they? Farmers are left with no other option than to boycott this committee?” Mr. Yechury tweeted. CPI general secretary D. Raja told The Hindu that the constitution of the committee after putting a stay on the implementation raises serious questions.

The Hindu

2021-01-13

NEW DELHI