NEW DELHI: A day after the Supreme Court on Friday asked a farmers’ group about the justification of continuing protests by blocking highways when it had already challenged the farm laws in the court, the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), on behalf of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), on Saturday denied going to the apex court on any occasion.
“The SKM (a joint platform for the farmers protesting against the farm laws) has not approached any court at any point of time or assigned anybody to do so. The petitioner in the Supreme Court is not part of the SKM and has no legitimate right to represent the farmers’ struggle, which is going on for more than one year since the Union Cabinet adopted the farm Ordinances. So, as the Supreme Court bench suggested, there is no purpose to approach the court when the farmers are on protest,” a formal statement by the AIKS said.
The AIKS recalled that “the SKM has boycotted the Supreme Court-appointed commission to review the farm laws”. “Nobody knows what happened to the report of that commission.”
“To the best of our knowledge, neither the government nor the SKM has approached the court on this issue. It is not a legal battle that the farmers are engaged in; it is a battle for their life and livelihood,” the AIKS said in its statement. It added that while the protests have been going on in various parts of Delhi, including Jantar Mantar, for the last one year, it is unusual that a stamp approval or permit to protest is being sought from the farmers by certain quarters.
The AIKS reiterated that the Constitution of India is the supreme law of the land. “The Constitution guarantees right to life and livelihood to the citizens. It also guarantees the right to organise collective bargaining and the right to protest democratically.”
AIKS leaders Ashok Dhawale and Hannan Mollah said it is the Government of India under the leadership of the prime minister which has failed to resolve the issue democratically, “resorting to illegal, unethical measures like even digging up the national highways and framing the farmers as anti-nationals”. “Since January 22, 2021, the government has not taken any single step for any discussion with the kisan organisations. The farmers are continuing with the struggle, making their highest sacrifice. More than 605 farmers have lost their lives during this struggle.”
“The SKM (a joint platform for the farmers protesting against the farm laws) has not approached any court at any point of time or assigned anybody to do so. The petitioner in the Supreme Court is not part of the SKM and has no legitimate right to represent the farmers’ struggle, which is going on for more than one year since the Union Cabinet adopted the farm Ordinances. So, as the Supreme Court bench suggested, there is no purpose to approach the court when the farmers are on protest,” a formal statement by the AIKS said.
The AIKS recalled that “the SKM has boycotted the Supreme Court-appointed commission to review the farm laws”. “Nobody knows what happened to the report of that commission.”
“To the best of our knowledge, neither the government nor the SKM has approached the court on this issue. It is not a legal battle that the farmers are engaged in; it is a battle for their life and livelihood,” the AIKS said in its statement. It added that while the protests have been going on in various parts of Delhi, including Jantar Mantar, for the last one year, it is unusual that a stamp approval or permit to protest is being sought from the farmers by certain quarters.
The AIKS reiterated that the Constitution of India is the supreme law of the land. “The Constitution guarantees right to life and livelihood to the citizens. It also guarantees the right to organise collective bargaining and the right to protest democratically.”
AIKS leaders Ashok Dhawale and Hannan Mollah said it is the Government of India under the leadership of the prime minister which has failed to resolve the issue democratically, “resorting to illegal, unethical measures like even digging up the national highways and framing the farmers as anti-nationals”. “Since January 22, 2021, the government has not taken any single step for any discussion with the kisan organisations. The farmers are continuing with the struggle, making their highest sacrifice. More than 605 farmers have lost their lives during this struggle.”
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