Farmers Movement Archive

Unions reject CJI appeal to shelve stir till verdict on validity of laws

NEW DELHI: Protesting farmers’ unions, which have blocked the highway at Singhu border for nearly two months, on Wednesday rejected Chief Justice S A Bobde’s appeal to suspend their agitation since the Supreme Court has stayed implementation of the three farm laws and await its verdict on validity of the legislations. Heading a three-judge bench, CJI Bobde told counsel Prashant Bhushan, appearing for eight leading protesting farmers’ unions, “See what solution can be found. In a case like this, it is not enough for a counsel to argue the perspective of farmers’ unions. We are calling upon you to counsel your clients in such a way that it brings peace.” Bhushan said the farmers’ unions were firm on not easing the pressure being exerted on the government democratically through agitation to repeal the laws as they feared that suspending the agitation would let the government off the hook. He said they feared that if the SC upheld the legality of the farm laws, it would leave the protesting farmers nowhere. The bench of CJI Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian said, “We can only say that if the SC upholds the validity of the legislations, then you can restart the agitation.” But Bhushan said each protesting farmers’ union and their members were convinced that the three laws were against their interests and that there would be no let up in the agitation till the government repealed the laws. Taking a cue from the CJI’s observation for working towards peace, Bhushan said, “I have always counselled them that it is absolutely necessary to maintain peace.” Bhushan said, “All members of these unions are convinced that these laws have to be repealed. So, they are saying that we do not want to discuss amendments any more now. The laws were passed without any prior consultation, without prior notice, without referring to any parliamentary committee, without discussion in Parliament and without even voting in Rajya Sabha.”

The Times of India

2021-01-21

India