Court fumes at their plea for ‘Satyagrah’ at Jantar Mantar
The Supreme Court on Friday expressed strong displeasure over the way the farmers’ blockade has “strangulated the “entire city” and asked farmers’ unions to consider the rights of others while continuing with protests and blocking roads.
The top court reminded the unions that they should adopt a balanced approach and asked why they are continuing protests after filing cases against farm laws in courts. The apex court was responding to a petition by Kisan Mahapanchayat for allowing them to conduct a protest at Jantar Mantar.
“You have strangulated the entire city and now you want to come within the city and start protest again here,” the bench of justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar said, adding, “There has to be some balanced approach”.
“What was the point in continuing with the protest once it has moved the court challenging the farm laws,” the apex court asked the farmers’ body, and said the citizens have equal rights to move freely and without fear and there has to be some “balanced approach”. The bench asked the petitioners whether they have sought the view of the residents of the area if they are “happy” with their protest.
Kisan Mahapanchyat in its petition sought directions to the concerned authorities to provide space to at least 200 farmers or protesters of the body at the Jantar Mantar for organising peaceful and non-violent “Satyagrah”.
At the outset, the counsel appearing for the petitioners told the bench that the plea is seeking direction to the concerned authorities to permit them to stage “Satyagrah” at Jantar Mantar here. “Tell us one thing, you want “Satyagrah” here, no difficulty. But you have approached the court. Once you have approached the court, have trust in the court and the judicial system that it will decide your case appropriately,” the bench said.