Farm leaders refuse to appear before panel

NEW DELHI: Farm unions protesting a set of agricultural laws on Tuesday spurned the Supreme Court’s proposed committee of four to scrutinise the three contentious legislation, saying they would not participate in its consultations because farmers wanted the l aws repealed, not changed.

The farm unions, who have been rigid about their stand despite several amendments proposed by the government to address some of their objections to the new legislation, said they unanimously decided to stay off the proposed panel on Monday as a “precautionary step” when the Supreme Court first proposed it.

The top court named members to panel, all of who were “pro-reforms” and “pro-government”, all the more reason not to take part in its consultations, leaders of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, a platform for the protesting farm unions, told reporters.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday put the implementation of the three farm laws approved by Parliament in September on hold, and set up a committee of experts to examine the laws “threadbare”.

“During the course of the agitation, it became clear that the court wanted a committee. Our lawyers told the court that they would get back after taking instructions from us,” farm leader Darshan Pal told HT.

“We wanted to steer clear of the panel because that is a way of diverting the main issue, which is a repeal of laws. That’s why our lawyers were not present today in court,” he said.

The decision of protesting farm unions not to cooperate with the SC-proposed panel only deepens the stalemate.

Balbir Singh Rajewal, another farm leader, said the unions would go ahead with their planned tractor parade on Republic Day inside the national capital in a “peaceful way”.

“A lot of lies are being spread that we will lay siege to Parliament or take over the Red Fort on Republic Day. Our programme will be peaceful. We will announce the complete modalities after January 15,” Rajewal said.