Since September, the last rites of 41 farmers have been performed. Some died of severe cold, while others of heart attack. But their courage to protest against the newly found farm laws have not hindered. Pritam Singh aged 65 committed suicide on September18. He consumed sulphate tablets while protesting outside the house of Prakash Singh Badal-former chief minister of Punjab. He was taken to hospital but succumbed to internal injuries. He was soon followed by another young farmer of 22, who poisoned himself after returning from Singhu border. Though this suicide is yet to be verified, said Joginder Singh Jawanda of BKU (Ugrahan). Police officers reveled at least ten people died in road accidents while joining the demonstrations.
Twenty-six people died after till November 26 in Delhi. Among the deceased were also two women. A 45-year old farmer died in a truck accident. His family was given Rs 5 lakh in compensation by the Punjab government.
The congress asked Prime Minister to accept the farmer’s demands. Citing the hymns heard in the background of the video of PM Modi’s visit to Rakab Ganj Gurdwara, they said that if a devotee cannot change the thinking and wont be able serve for people’s interest then religiosity is nothing but a futility.
Party’s communications chief, Randeep Surjewala posted, “ Modi ji, pay heed to the essence of the message: ‘ No matter how much religious matter how many texts a man reads, it is all a waste unless he thinks about the welfare of humanity’… Wish the Prime Minister adopted the message from Guruwani instead of showing cruelty to farmers and using this visit to Gurudwara for mere photo opportunity”
The Supreme court decided that a panel should be set up that would be a completely “impartial and independent” panel of agriculture experts and farmers union to resolve the deadlock over the three contentious farm laws. It also suggested journalist P. Sainath to be part of the panel. The three-judge bench said the expert panel would be formed only after the court had listened to all the stake holders and suggested that government holds the implementation of the law. Chief Justice SA Bobde said, “Blocking Delhi may lead to people in the city going hungry. Your [farmers'] purpose can be fulfilled by talking. Just sitting in protest will not help,"
P. Sainath said, “The operative part of the APMC or the farm contracts laws – I mean operative text – is barely four pages. When the government says it is willing to make amendments to 12 of the 14 or 15 points of criticism the farmers have levelled against them, it is accepting how seriously flawed these laws are. It seems pointless to amend 80-90% of such fatally flawed documents (which many, including serious legal minds, are calling unconstitutional). These are sweeping bits of legislation by the Centre on what is, under the Constitution, a state subject. Can you amend unconstitutional laws – no, you withdraw them.”
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