Farmers Movement Archive

SC does not and cannot have role in resolving deadlock over agri laws: Farm bodies

NEW DELHI: A day before the Supreme Court takes up farm laws-related issues, AIKSCC, the umbrella body of farm organisations opposed to the central agri laws, said the apex court “does not and cannot have any role in resolving a political deadlock over anti-farmers laws”. The unions, however, decided to put forward their views in the court. The SC had last month asked eight unions, including six representing different factions of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), to present their points in response to petitions seeking removal of the protests and blockages at the Delhi borders and other related issues. Importantly, there is a petition challenging inclusion of certain aspects of agriculture in the concurrent list. Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar had suggested in the previous interaction with the unions that the issue of constitutionality of the laws — challenged by the farm organisations — could be settled by the SC expeditiously through day-to-day hearings. “As far as constitutionality of the farm laws are concerned, the SC can look at the issue. But it should best stay away from the policy aspect of it which the unions think would be disastrous for farmers,” said Avik Saha, working group member of the AIKSCC. The SC had last month looked at the blocks on Delhi’s borders and said it was a democratic right of farmers to protest peacefully. There are, however, other petitions before it, including whether the government has a constitutional right to enact such legislations. Saha, leader of Jai Kisan Andolan, said, “The government has claimed to have enacted the laws for farmers. So, it should be left to farmers to decide whether they want it or not. It is really strange that while the Centre has been talking with 40 unions, the Supreme Court has sought the views of only eight.” The government is expected to submit before the apex court what all it has done to resolve the issues while remaining engaged with farmers through eight rounds of talks. Sources said the Centre would also tell the court that the farm laws would be beneficial for the majority of farmers across the country as they were meant to provide them freedom to sell their produce outside regulated markets at remunerative prices and encourage contract farming. On the Centre’s point to resolve the issue through the SC, the AIKSCC on Sunday said it reflected “all round failure of the government in solving the problems of farmers”. “It is a political choice made by BJP against the interests of farmers. Farmers are opposing these laws all over India. Farmers continue to surround Delhi from all sides and will soon close down all borders. They are here to tell the government and Parliament that it has passed wrong laws,” the AIKSCC said in a statement.

The Times of India

2021-01-11

India