Farmers' Protest: As a breakthrough still eludes the impasse between the farmers and Centre which has been going on since 22 days with thousands of farmers camping at Delhi borders, the Supreme Court on Wednesday mooted a committee to resolve the dispute.
Also Read | Farmers' Protest: Sikh Priest Shoots Self Near Singhu Border, Dies; Leaves Emotional Suicide Note
The top court will today hear the batch of pleas seeking a direction to the authorities to immediately remove the farmers who are protesting at several border points of Delhi against three new farm laws.
Here are the top developments:
SC to hear pleas on farmers’ protest:
The Supreme Court will continue its hearing on Thursday over the pleas seeking a direction to vacate the Delhi borders where the farmers have been protesting over last 22 days.
'Khaps' of UP's Muzaffarnagar to reach Delhi to support protesting farmers:
A number of "khaps" in UP's Muzaffarnagar have extended support to the farmers' agitation against the Centre's new agri laws and will join the ongoing protests at Delhi's border points on Thursday. The decision was taken at a meeting of the chiefs of "khaps" (caste councils) held on Monday at Shoram village in the Shahpur police station area here, Subhash Balyan, secretary of All Khap council, said.
The "khap" chiefs termed the Centre's three new agri marketing laws "anti-farmer" and called for their repeal, he said, adding that they have decided to reach Delhi on December 17 to support the agitation.
SC indicates setting up panel to break deadlock
The Supreme Court on Wednesday stepped in and indicated forming a panel to break the three-week long deadlock. “We will form a committee to resolve the dispute. We will have members of the government, members from farmer organisations in it. This may soon become a national issue. We will have members from farmer organisations from rest of India," the court said. The parties involved were also asked to propose a list of names of committee members.
Committee no solution, say farmers:
Protesting farmer unions said constituting a new panel to break the stalemate on the three new agri laws is not a solution as they want a complete withdrawal of the legislations. They also said the government should have formed a committee of farmers and others before the laws were enacted by Parliament.
Sikh preacher commits suicide:
As the protests at the border points of Delhi for the repeal of the three new farm laws entered the 21st day, police said a Sikh preacher supporting the agitation allegedly committed suicide near the Singhu border. A handwritten note in Punjabi, purportedly left behind by the deceased, says he was unable to bear the "pain of farmers". The note is being verified by the police.
There are lakhs of other farmers who support the laws, says Narendra Tomar:
While there's protest against reforms, lakhs of farmers are also gathering to express support for bills. Today, thousands of farmers gathered in Gwalior for it: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar while addressing an ASSOCHAM session via video conferencing