In its first reaction to the Supreme Court order, the farmers’ unions appreciated the fact that the apex court had declined to pass any order to stop the ongoing protests.
While the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) welcomed the stay on the implementation of the farm laws, it added the repeal of the farm laws is the only solution as the implementation can be reinstated at any point in time. Moreover, the unions reiterated that they will not participate in a court-mandated committee process.
A 4-member committee comprising agricultural economist Ashok Gulati, BKU national president Bhupinder Singh Mann, Pramod Kumar Joshi- Director, South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute and Shetkari Sanghatana president Anil Ghanwat has been formed by the SC to resolve the current standoff. Casting aspersions on the impartiality of the panel, the AIKSCC alleged that these persons have openly supported the agrarian laws. Maintaining that the unions have nothing to do with the matter in the Supreme Court, the statement revealed that the farmers’ protest on Republic Day in Delhi and other parts of the country will go ahead as scheduled.
In a statement, the AIKSCC remarked, “Farmers have explained in detail to the government of India that 3 laws will lead to corporate control over agri processing, markets. Will lead to high cost of inputs, higher debts on peasants, lower the crop prices, increase farmer losses, decrease govt procurement, end PDS, raise food costs, higher farmer and agri worker suicides, hunger deaths, eviction from land due to debts. Government has hidden these hard facts from people and courts.”
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