New Delhi:
The farmers’ protest must continue and Delhi cannot be blocked, the Supreme Court said today upon hearing a series of petitions on the issue. Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, who said yesterday that the matter should be turned over to a committee, said the panel should have “independent members with knowledge of agriculture and listen to both sides and report on what needs to be done.” . Meanwhile, “the protests can continue without violence and the police will do nothing,” said the Chief Justice.
When the Center insisted on a meeting in which each clause can be discussed, the court said: “Yesterday we observed that the Center is not successful in the negotiations. We do not believe that the farmers will accept its conclusions. Let the committee decide.”
When leading advocate Harish Salve said “Protests cannot be just to protest, but to articulate point of view,” the court said, “That is exactly what we mean.”
“The purpose of the protest must be fulfilled by non-violent means. Protests must be about issues. The aggrieved parties must be able to articulate and the party that caused the problem must be able to respond,” said Chief Justice Bobde.
.
