While the popular perception is that the Supreme Court has intruded into the legislative sphere and not abided by the constitutional separation of powers between the legislature and the judiciary with its stay on the new farm laws, there is another side to the entire fiasco of the farmers’ protests, which holds just as much merit as the former assertion, if not more.
The Supreme India of India has, in fact, single-handedly exposed the reality of the fake farmers’ protests which have gripped the National Capital Region. The apex court’s controversial stay on the revolutionary farm laws has shown that the agitations have nothing to do with the farming sector or those involved in it, but are only a means to destabilise the Modi government.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the three farm laws and also formed a four-member committee to talk to the protesting farmers and the government stakeholders. Yet, the farmers’ unions camping on the borders of Delhi have openly defied the instructions of the top court and stated that they will not be appearing before any committee. This, even as they welcomed the decision to stay the farm laws while reiterating that the Supreme Court’s kind gesture is no substitute for a complete repeal of the reforms.
Further exposing the protestors as a bunch of anarchists looking to vitiate the atmosphere of the national capital, farmers’ union leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said, “Seniors don’t want to leave the protest site. No one will leave the protest sites till the laws are repealed.” This, after a senior advocate appearing on behalf of the protestors, stated on the record before the top court that elders and women would be heading home soon.
After the Supreme Court of India staying the farm laws and forming a committee to look into the entire matter, what would at least have been expected from the side of the agitators would be that they would tone down their demonstrations and protests in good faith. However, the Supreme Court’s decision has changed nothing on the ground, and the farm unions are simply dismissing the top court’s intervention in the matter, saying that they would rather talk to the government instead of the committee.
The obstinacy of the alleged farmers and their maximalist stance has not been altered despite the intervention of the Supreme Court itself. Effectively, the top court’s decisions have gone a long way in exposing the agitators as a bunch of people who are not willing to engage in dialogue and not negotiate with any stakeholders.
Assuming that the farmers’ unions are not relenting on even one count by an inch, and are threatening to agitate indefinitely, the proposition of some very powerful vested interest groups and questionable entities being behind the protests only gets stamped with authority.
If the alleged farmers are not paying heed to the instructions of the Supreme Court, they will most definitely not indulge in talks with the government while having the intent to resolve their issues, if there are any, that is. Needless to say, the Centre had made it abundantly clear on more than one occasion that the farm laws will not be repealed, come what may. The Supreme Court, meanwhile, has exposed the farmers’ unions for their anarchist approach.