Farmers protest in Patiala Photo: PTI/Shiva Sharma Farmers protest in Patiala Photo: PTI/Shiva Sharma

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea against the farmers camping on national and state highways in Punjab as the bench mentioned that the matter is already pending in the court under another case.eureka dog online casino

The plea alleges that farmers and their unions have blocked national and state highways in Punjab indefinitely and seeks directions to ensure their removal.

The apex court in a stern warning mentioned that repeated petitions like these should not be filed, as they make it seem like the person is seeking publicity or trying to attract attention.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in a post on X questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi why "farmers have to come to Delhi's doorstep again and again for justice" and he accused the Centre of "betraying the farmers again and again".

The agitating farmers have been camping at the Shambhu border and Khanauri border February 13 as part of their protest to demand a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price, a farm debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases (against farmers), and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

The farmers under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have initiated 'Delhi Chalo' march several times earlier and each time the police in Haryana, Delhi have actively stopped it resorting to teargas shelling and arrest of a few protesters.

Similarly the agitating farmers suspended their foot march to Delhi on Sunday after some of them sustained injuries in teargas shelling by Haryana security personnel who thwarted yet another attempt by the protesters to cross the Punjab-Haryana border on December 8.

What Did The Supreme Court Say?

A bench headed by Justice Surya Kant who heard the matter on December 9 dismissed social activist Gaurav Luthra's plea by saying, "We are already examining the larger issue. You are not the only conscience keeper of society. Don't file repetitive petitions. Some are filing for publicity interest and some are filing to play to the gallery. We cannot entertain repetitive petitions on the same issue."

The court also refused Luthra's request to tag the petition with the pending matter.

The plea has alleged that farmers' and their unions have blocked the entire national and state highways in Punjab for an indefinite period.

It also sought directions to ensure that national highways and railway tracks are not blocked by the agitating farmers.

Kharge Slams PM Modi Speaks About Plight Of Farmers

Slamming the Centre, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said farmers are pleading for justice because the Modi government "betrayed them again and again", and asserted that the tillers' right to raise their voice should not be taken away from them.

Kharge asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi as to why farmers have to come to Delhi's doorstep again and again for justice.

"Today, when you will be on a tour to Haryana and Rajasthan, I hope that you will definitely try to understand the struggle of the farmer who provides food to the nation. Farmers are pleading for justice because your government has betrayed them again and again," Kharge said in a post in Hindi on X.

"The betrayal of not doubling farmers' income by 2022, the betrayal of not implementing Input Cost + 50% MSP as per the Swaminathan report, and the betrayal of forming a committee to give legal status to MSP but not acting on it," he said, slamming the Modi government.

Kharge claimed that there was neither adequate procurement nor was it being done at a fair price.

"In this situation, no matter how many lies you and your Agriculture Minister tell, the farmers who provide food have understood that you are their staunch opponent. Don't take away the farmers' right to raise their voice, Don't do injustice to them!" he added.

Opposition leaders spoke up about several issues against centre at Lok Sabha on Monday including the issue of farmers protesting. Samajwadi Party member Dharmendra Yadav also raised the issue of farmers. He was heard saying "Pure desh ka kisan pareshan hai."

Farmers' March Ended In Teargas Shelling On Sunday

After a group of 101 farmers resumed the foot march on Sunday afternoon, they were halted by a multilayered barricade set up by Haryana security personnel who surprised the protesters by offering them tea and biscuits and showering them with flower petals.

But the protesters claimed it was all a "drama" as the police soon lobbed teargas shells and used water jets to disperse them when they insisted on crossing the Shambhu border.

As the confrontation escalated, the farmers, many of whom had covered their faces and were wearing protective eyewear, receded a few metres. Some tried to cover the teargas shells with wet jute bags.

Farmer leaders said they would decide the next course of action on Monday.

On Friday tooeureka dog online casino, the protesters had suspended their march after some of them suffered injuries due to tear gas shells, and farmer leaders had accused Haryana Policeof high-handedness.

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