Though the Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the implementation of three farm laws and constituted a four-member committee to break the deadlock the farmers’ unions later in the day made it amply clear that they are not going to withdraw their agitation.
They jointly held a Press conference to explain their position on the issue. They clarified that their Tractors March would not go to Red Fort or disturb any of the official function on the Republic Day as is being deliberately propagated by the government to defame them.
Leaders like Rakesh Tikait, while appreciating the Supreme Court ruling, refused to call off their Jan 26 programme.
Though the farmers had made it clear on Monday evening itself that they would not accept any proposal regarding the constitution of the committee they were further upset after finding the name of four members in the panel as all of them are known for their pro-farm laws stand and have written and spoken in their favour. They are agriculture economist, Ashok Gulati, former Rajya Sabha MP and a leader of a farmers’ body considered close to the government, Bhupendra Singh Mann, agriculture scientist Pramod Kumar Joshi and the Maharashtra president of Shetkari Sanghatana Anil Ghanwat.
Earlier the former Chief Justice of India R M Lodha refused to head the committee.
Apart from the January 26 Tractor March the farmers would carry out their agitation as per planning. On January 13 they would burn the copies of the three farm laws across the country.
Uncertainty looms over the ninth round of talks with the government on January 15 after the Supreme Court’s order of Tuesday.
