The Center told Supreme Cout that there was no mask wearing or social distancing at the protest site.
New Delhi:
Farmers protesting against the three agricultural laws passed in September are adamant that they will be repealed and have come prepared to stay on Delhi’s borders for six months if necessary, the Center told the Supreme Court today. “The blockade occurs only in war,” Attorney General KK Venugopal, representing the Center, told the court.
Arguing that the farmers’ blockade on the Delhi border will have to be lifted, the Center said it “affects the right of movement and the damage is enormous.”
“Worst of all, there is no wearing of masks or social distancing. COVID will spread and they will return to the village and spread the virus throughout the state,” Venugopal said, citing the tens of thousands of farmers who have gathered. . at the border.
Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, who was leading the bench after hearing a handful of petitions about the protest, asked if farmers have blocked roads across the city. Upon learning it was a road where they had been camping, he said: “Tikri and Singhu are already blocked. It is not like Delhi has drowned.”
The Center’s repeated attempts to push clause-by-clause negotiations were also ignored by the court, which recommended the formation of a panel yesterday.
“Yesterday we observed that the Center is not successful in the negotiations. We do not believe that the farmers will accept their conclusions. Let the committee decide,” Judge Bobde said.
Holding that farmers have a fundamental right to protest, the court suggested that the government take no executive action to implement the law until a final decision is made on the matter. Venugopal said he would return after discussing it with the government.
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