NEW DELHI, Jan 12: The agitating farmers demanding repeal of the three contentious farm acts have welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court staying the implementation of the acts but want to continue the dharna on the borders of Delhi to maintain pressure on the central government.
Some of the farmer union leaders said a formal decision on continuing the agitation would be taken by the farmers organizations later Tuesday or Wednesday but most of the agitating unions were in favour of continuing the agitation.
The farmers unions had formally decided on Monday evening not to represent before the Supreme Court – appointed committee after the centre categorically refused to accept their demand for the repeal of the acts. “We are not seeking amendments to the acts but only a total roll back,’ the farm leaders pointed out.
Farmer leaders welcomed the Supreme Court’s order but said they would not call off their protest until the legislations were repealed.
The Sankyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of around 40 protesting farmer unions, has called a meeting later in the day to decide the next course of action.
The Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the controversial farm laws till further orders on Tuesday and set up a four-member committee of experts to resolve the impasse between the Centre and the farmers’ unions protesting at Delhi’s borders over the legislations.
Thousands of farmers, mostly from Haryana and Punjab, have been protesting at several border points of Delhi since November 26 demanding repeal of the three laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price for their crops.
(Manas Dasgupta)