The farmers protesting the contentious agricultural laws near Delhi’s borders have threatened to hold a tractor rally – “Kisaan Parade” – in the national capital on Republic Day.
As the deadlock over new agricultural laws continues and farmers threaten to intensify the protests, the Supreme Court today expressed disappointment, saying “there’s no improvement in the situation at all.”
While hearing a petition challenging the laws, Chief Justice SA Bobde said the top court’s “intention was to encourage talks” between the government and the protesting farmers. “There’s no improvement in (the) situation at all. We understand the situation and we encourage talks,” CJI Bobde added.
Attorney General KK Venugopal, two days after the seventh round of talks remained inconclusive, told the apex court: “We are discussing with farmers. There are chances of some sort of understanding between the parties.”
“A healthy discussion is going on now,” said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
The government had said last week that the two sides were able to come to an understanding on two of the four demands of the farmers — withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill and the penal provisions for stubble burning in the Air Quality Commission Ordinance.
The farmers protesting the contentious agricultural laws near Delhi’s borders have threatened to hold a tractor rally – “Kisaan Parade” – in the national capital on Republic Day.
An agreement over MSP could not be reached in the last meeting. Farmers have been insisting on a complete repeal of the laws, and the centre hasn’t agreed to it.
Two days before the seventh round of talks, Dr Darshanpal, one of the farmer leaders, told at a press briefing: “We are going to hold discussions on January 4 (Monday). The Supreme Court is going to hear the matter on January 5. If no conclusion is reached and if talks fail, we will hold a tractor march on Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway in Haryana on January 6. We will protest for 15 days. On January 23, Subhash Chandra Bose’s birthday, we will hold a protest outside the Governor’s House.”
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