Hearing a petition seeking permission for 200 people to protest at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, the Supreme Court of India slammed the Kisan Mahapanchayat – a farmers’ group. A bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar said that the farmers’ group has ‘throttled’ the city and obstructed the security personnel.
The group had sought permission for a non-violent protest (‘satyagraha’) of around 200 people at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. The court said that since the farmers’ unions have approached the courts against the three agricultural laws, its validity is now within the ambit of law. Thus, “there is no point in protesting” as observed by Justice Khanwilkar.
The Supreme Court says that the protesting farmers have strangled the entire city and now want to come inside the city.
— ANI (@ANI) October 1, 2021
“What is the point of doing Satyagraha. You have approached the court. Trust the court. Once you have approached the court, what is the point of protest? Are you opposing the judicial system? In the system Have faith”, Justice Khanwilkar was quoted as saying by Live Law.
Justice Khanwilkar also held agricultural bodies responsible for obstructing Delhi’s borders. “You have strangled the whole city, now you want to come inside the city! Neighbors residents, are they happy with the protest? This business should be closed. You are disrupting security and defense personnel. This is in the media. Wait. Once you come to the court challenging the laws, there is no point in protesting”, Justice Khanwilkar said.
The judge said that the farmers have blocked the national highways.
The lawyer, appearing for the Kisan Mahapanchayat, said, “We have not blocked the highways. The police have detained us there.” They have submitted an affidavit in the court stating that they are not involved in the protest which is “blocking national highways”.
Farmers have led large-scale protests at various borders of Delhi since 26 November 2021 under the leadership of two different groups, the United Kisan Morcha (SKM) and the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti (KMSC).
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