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‘Anti-CAA agitation was not a Satyagraha but it fell under terror activities’: Gauhati High Court while dismissing activist Akhil Gogoi’s bail plea

OpIndia Staff
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‘Anti-CAA agitation was not a Satyagraha but it fell under terror activities’: Gauhati High Court while dismissing activist Akhil Gogoi’s bail plea

The Gauhati High Court on Thursday turned down the bail plea of ‘activist’ Akhil Gogoi, who has been lodged in jail since December 2019 on various charges, including sedition and inciting violence during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act movement. The High Court upheld the decision by a special NIA court that had rejected Gogoi’s bail plea in one of the 13 cases registered against him. Gogoi had received bail in all the 13 cases, except this one.

The High Court, in its order, made scathing observations while dismissing Gogoi’s bail plea. It said that anti-CAA agitation was not a Satyagraha as portrayed by the partakers but fell into terror activities defined under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The court said that the use of violence in the name of protest can’t be termed as satyagraha. The division bench of Justices Kalyan Rai Surana and Ajit Bathakur said in its order, “by use of violence, the appellant-led mob had brushed aside the noble concept of non-violent protest, which is popularly known as satyagraha and that such conduct of paralyzing the government machinery, causing economic blockade, causing enmity between groups, disruption of public peace an widespread disharmony and dissatisfaction towards the government, are acts which are prejudicial/for national integration and such acts squarely falls within the definition of “terrorist act” as defined in section 15 of the UA(P) Act.”

Gogoi had managed to secure bail in one of the two cases registered by the NIA in connection with his alleged involvement in violent protests against CAA in Assam. This was the only case left where the special NIA court had rejected his bail plea. A division bench of Gauhati Court upheld the NIA court’s decision and dismissed the bail petition filed by Gogoi.

Akhil Gogoi arrested in December 2019 for inciting violence and protests against CAA

The NIA had registered a case against Akhil Gogoi, the leader of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), for his role in in the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests in the state that claimed at last six lives, three in police firing in December 2019.

The case was initially filed at the Chandmari police station in Guwahati but was later transferred to the NIA. Gogoi has been charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, sedition, criminal conspiracy, support to terrorist organisations, among others. He was arrested at Jorhat on 12 December 2019 for his role in the protests against the CAA, a legislation passed by the central government to fast forward citizenship to minorities belonging to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Three of his associates were arrested a day later.

Gogoi was subsequently handed over to the NIA and a court sent him to 10 days custody of the agency on December 17. He was also taken to New Delhi for interrogation. Gogoi was brought back to Guwahati on December 25 and has been in judicial custody ever since.

Donald Trump is exploring the possibility of issuing himself a pardon before leaving the White House: Reports

OpIndia Staff
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Donald Trump is exploring the possibility of issuing himself a pardon before leaving the White House: Reports

US President Donald Trump is exploring the possibility of issuing himself a self-pardon, if reports are to be believed. As per reports, he has been asking aides and lawyers about his self-pardon power. White House counsel Pat Cipollone is reported to be one of the people he has asked.

It is not clear what he would issue himself a pardon for or if he, indeed, even needs one. Donald Trump has not been indicted in any matter and there is no evidence that he has committed any illegality. The matter has not been breached after the riots at Capitol Hill, reports indicate.

CNN reported, “He has also asked for legal opinions on whether he has the authority to issue a self-pardon and has been advised on the potential political fallout. This person said it was not yet clear whether the President would follow through with a pardon for himself.”

New York Times reported that the incumbent US President has considered “pre-emptive pardons” for members of his family, including Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner as well as his close associates like Rudy Giuliani. Trump has reportedly expressed concern that the Biden administration will investigate them all.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump had said in 2018, “As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?”

If he indeed goes ahead with it, it would be an unprecedented use of the president’s pardon power. There is no consensus among legal experts whether a president can pardon himself. However, most are of the opinion that it would not stand the test of legality.

Farmer dadi sues Kangana for misidentifying her as Shaheen Bagh’s Bilkis dadi, says it ‘lowered her reputation and prestige’

OpIndia Staff
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Farmer dadi sues Kangana for misidentifying her as Shaheen Bagh’s Bilkis dadi, says it ‘lowered her reputation and prestige’

Actor Kangana Ranaut is once again caught in a legal tangle for a month old Tweet regarding farmer protests that she later deleted. Now a 73-year-old woman, who was misidentified by Kangana Ranaut as the ‘Shaheen Bagh dadi’, has filed a written complaint against the actor in a district court in Bathinda.

Mohinder Kaur, a resident of Bahadurgarh Jandian village in Punjab as filed a defamation suit against the actor under IPC sections 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation), through her counsel Raghbir Singh on Friday.

Kangana Ranaut post caused mental agony and loss of reputation to Mohinder Kaur

Kaur has alleged that the actor’s post on social media, which misidentified her as the Shaheen Bagh dadi (Bilkis Bano) lowered her reputation and prestige. She has been suffering from grave mental tension, agony, harassment, humiliation, loss of reputation, and defamation in the eyes of her family members, relatives, co-villagers, and public by-large, read Kaur’s complaint. She furthered that Kangana Ranaut has not even tendered an unconditional apology to her.

The lady claimed that she and her entire family are farmers. They are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood and for that reason they are supporting the protesting ‘farmers’ from day one.

Kangana Ranaut misidentified Kaur as the ‘famous’ Bilkis Bano

Almost a month back, Ranaut had mistaken an elderly woman who had participated in women’s march taken out as part of the farmer protests for the famous Bilkis Bano also known as ‘Dadi’ who had participated in Shaheen Bagh protests. Retweeting a post on Twitter that claimed that the woman in farmer protests was Bilkis Bano, Ranaut had said that Dadi was available for hire to appear in protests. She had later deleted her post.

Following the Tweet, she was also sued by a Chandigarh based advocate named Hakam Singh. He too had sent her a legal notice accusing her of ‘mocking an old female’ and sought a public apology from Ranaut within seven days.

‘Shaheen Bagh Dadi’ Bilkis Bano participated in farmer protests

The Shaheen Bag Dadi, who was featured in the list of top 100 influential people of 2020 in Time Magazine, joined the farmer protests yesterday. However, she was detained by police at Singhu Border. Police said that Dadi was stopped for her own safety amid the Covid-19 pandemic as she was a senior citizen.

Calcutta High Court agrees with state govt’s proposal of ‘e-snan’ facility during Gangasagar Mela to prevent the spread of Coronavirus

OpIndia Staff
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Calcutta High Court agrees with state govt’s proposal of ‘e-snan’ facility during Gangasagar Mela to prevent the spread of Coronavirus

Calcutta High Court yesterday agreed with the West Bengal government’s proposal to make arrangement for e-snan for pilgrims in place of an actual dip in Ganga in Gangasagar Mela this year. By e-snan the state government referred to the facility of making available the holy water at the doorsteps of people to discourage gathering and taking physical dips in Ganga. A Bench of Justices Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and Arijit Banerjee was hearing a PIL raising concerns over challenges likely to arise from gathering of people for the Gangasagar Mela in view of the pandemic. The judges expressed concern over the possibility of waterborne transmission of Covid-19 if devotees took dips in the river.

On Thursday, the court had asked the state government to assess the risk that may arise if devotees congregate for the Mela even in reduced numbers. “Be that as it may, life is more important in every sense, in comparison to religious practice, beliefs and faith”, the judges had observed. The court had asked the government to submit its response with respect to control or regulated or even cancellation of the Mela if required in view of the pandemic. The court had also sought inputs from the highest Medical Officer in the State government.

Proposed safety measures to include e-snan

An affidavit was filed on Friday by the Director of the State’s Health Department, Ajoy Kumar Chakraborty, listing the safety measures proposed to be implemented by the State government during the Mela. The measures included–

  • Mandatory use of face masks, maintenance of physical distancing and use of sanitisers by participating pilgrims and officials on duty. Measures to spread awareness among the pilgrims and others about the need to follow Covid-19 protocol and for the distribution of masks and sanitisers.
  • E-Snan (e-bathing) through doorstep delivery of packaged holy water, which would be made to those who intend to do so. Arrangements are also being made for online broadcasting (e- darshan) of the Ganga Sagar Mela.
  • Participating Pilgrims and others would be encouraged through a public address system to opt for E-Snan instead of having a dip in the holy water. E-snan packaged holy water would be distributed from kiosks to be set up for such purpose.
  • Pilgrims would be kept moving through the dedicated barricaded channels and asked to vacate the mela ground and the river bank without delay
  • There would be Medical Screening Camps having thermal checking facilities at all the major entry points, testing centres etc., among other measures.

The Court pointed out health risks involved in taking dip in the water

The court expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made by the state government. It directed the state government to start the publicity of the safety measures immediately and to implement the safety measures across the state.

Pointing out the health risks of taking physical dip in Ganga, the court observed, “It cannot be overemphasised that a dip in the water may contaminate the water if the person concerned had infection within him/her and it does not matter how long that person stays in the water. A dip for a second may be enough to cause the damage that is apprehended”.

The court has asked the State government to submit an affidavit providing the details of safety measures put in place for the safe conduct of the Gangasagar Mela by January 13. It said that it would assess the situation and decide whether the Mela should be held at all keeping in mind the pandemic and the paramount interest of public health at large.

Peak ‘Atheist’ Sam Harris, who said Bin Laden was morally superior to Trump, thanks Twitter for suspending US Pres

OpIndia Staff
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Peak ‘Atheist’ Sam Harris, who said Bin Laden was morally superior to Trump, thanks Twitter for suspending US Pres

Peak ‘rational atheist’ Sam Harris has expressed gratitude towards Jack, the CEO of Twitter, for suspending the account of incumbent US President Donald Trump. He said that the suspension “should have happened years ago” and that “we’ve paid a terrible price for the delay.”

Sam Harris suspension of Donald Trump account
Sam Harris suspension of Donald Trump account

Sam Harris was not always so unhinged. Once upon a time, he did appreciate the dangers of social media censorship. In December 2018, the peak ‘rational atheist’ deleted his account of Patreon, a platform for subscription service, after the platform suspended the accounts of numerous conservatives alleging that they were associated with ‘hate groups’.

He said then, “As many of you know Patreon has banned several prominent content creators from this platform. While the company insists each was in violation of its terms of service, these recent expulsions seem more readily explained by political bias. Although I don’t share the politics of the banned members, I consider it no longer tenable to expose any part of my podcast funding to the whims of Patreon’s ‘Trust and Safety’ committee.”

Since then, however, the Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS), however, appears to have gotten to him. He has made some extraordinarily bizarre comments of late. Sam Harris had said in an October 2020 episode of his podcast, “Osama bin Laden, as a person, is far more understandable to me and far less reprehensible, personally, psychologically, than Trump.”

Sam Harris has said in the past, “I find Trump more despicable than I found Osama bin Laden… With Osama bin Laden, it’s just obvious to me that he could have been a mensch in some sense, right? He’s making serious sacrifices for ideas that he deeply believes in. He’s committed to a cause greater than himself.”

He had added, “I don’t doubt he had real ethical connections to the people in his life that he cared about. He’s a real person, right? And in some ways, he is kind of a moral hero in a very bad game. And so therefore, he’s kind of prototypically evil when viewed from my game. He’s a person of actual substance- he’s just committed to the wrong ends, whereas Trump is the negation of all those things.”

‘Twitter tolerates Ayatollah, but not Trump’: Twitter erupts after brazen censorship by Twitter

OpIndia Staff
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‘Twitter tolerates Ayatollah, but not Trump’: Twitter erupts after brazen censorship by Twitter

Hours after incumbent US President Donald Trump was permanently suspended from micro-blogging platform Twitter for ‘inciting’ violence, netizens have come forwards to express their fears about selective censorship on social media.

Twitter, which claims to uphold freedom of speech, was quick to ban Trump and the handles of his aides. Highlighting the contradiction in Twitter’s actions and its public image, a user wrote, “I think President Trump just exposed what kind of company Twitter is. The world is watching. I’m watching from Japan.”

While emphasising on the monopoly of social media giants, which controls what is ‘normal’ and what isn’t, another user stated, “Big Tech is the enemy of the people.”

Twitter user Viv pointed out how a handful of people determine your ability to freely express your opinions on social media. “Twitter has around 5000 employees, Facebook 45,000 & Reddit only has 400. That’s an extremely tiny percentage of people having huge & mostly unprecedented power over the very way we communicate, share things, interact,” the user stated.

Author and Filmmaker, Mike Cernovich, reiterated that Twitter’s decision to ban Donald Trump will have a long-lasting impact on the country. Highlighting the dangers of such a decision, he tweeted, “Today will be seen as when the country officially split. The left is going to use its power in unimaginable ways. The blow black will be extreme. Foreign powers will be funding all sides of the exchange. Hyperinflation. The U.S. no longer a global power.”

Twitter user, Denis Rancourt wrote, “They don’t assassinate USA presidents any more. This is what they do instead: mass unrelenting defamation and silencing.”

Netizens call out Twitter for its ‘double standards’

Netizens were quick to expose the double standards of the social media giant. One user informed that the Supreme leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, infamous for human rights violations, is allowed to have a Twitter account. However, Donald Trump, who has been democartically elected by the people in 2016, is not permitted to express his views.

Twitter user Ninad Turtle asked, “One account was permanently suspended by Twitter for inciting violence. Guess which?” He had shared tweets of actress Swara Bhaskar and Donald Trump, to highlight the selective censorship of Twitter. Bashar, who was seen inciting mobs to unleash violence and terror on the streets in the name of Anti-CAA protests, had a free run while Trump has been silenced by the same platform.

Donald Trump hits back at Twitter

After Twitter suspended not just President Trump’s account but also other Twitter accounts associated with him, President Trump issued a statement over the shocking action of Twitter to ban free speech saying that micro-blogging site is colluding with Democrats and radical left elements to silence him and the 75 million people who voted for him.

In his tweet, President Donald Trump pointed out how he had been saying for a long time that Twitter has gone further and further in banning free speech and added that Twitter employees have coordinated with the Democrats and the Radical Left elements to remove his account from their platform, to silence him and the 75,000,000 great patriots who voted for him. The President also pointed out that Twitter may be a private company, but the government’s gift of Section 230 they would not exist for long.

“I predicted this would happen. We have been negotiating with various other sites and will have a big announcement soon, while we also look at the possibilities of building out our own platform in the near future. We will not be SILENCED! Twitter is not about FREE SPEECH,” added POTUS Donald Trump highlighting how the micro-blogging site is all about promoting a Radical Left platform ‘where some of the most vicious people in the world are allowed to speak freely’. The President of the United States, end his statement to his followers said, “STAY TUNED!”.

Complaint filed in Delhi against Shashi Tharoor fan Vincent Xavier for waving tricolour during Capitol Hill protest: Read details

Shashank Bharadwaj
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Complaint filed in Delhi against Shashi Tharoor fan Vincent Xavier for waving tricolour during Capitol Hill protest: Read details

A day after Vincent Xavier, an ardent fan of Shashi Tharoor, came forward to claim that he was the person to waved Indian flag during the Capitol hill protests in Washington on Wednesday, a complaint has been filed against him in Kalkaji police station in New Delhi, reports Bar and Bench.

According to the reports, a person named Deepak Singh has filed a complaint against Vincent Xavier seeking action against him under sections of sedition. He also demanded action against Kerala-based engineer under UAPA and Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act.

The complaint came after the 54-year-old Francis Xavier said he was part of the peaceful protests against the alleged election fraud during the US Presidential elections leading to the defeat of incumbent President Donald Trump. He said that they have been protesting against the rigged elections since Trump’s defeat in November and Wednesday’s protests were just another protest.

Xavier, who is an ardent fan of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, said that he was not part of the violence that followed when the mob breached the Capitol Hill, leading to the deaths of five persons. He claimed he was there only for the peaceful march, where he unfurled the Indian flag alongside many Americans who too waved the US flag in support of Donald Trump.

Vincent Xavier busts liberal propaganda on Capitol Hill protests

A day after an Indian flag was seen at the protests at the Capitol Hill in the Washington DC in the sea of American and Trump support flags, the left-liberals and its media ecosystem had pounced on Hindus to allege that it was one of those ‘Hindu supremacists’ who had waved the tricolour in the US bringing ‘shame’ to the country.

The left-liberals, Islamists, the far-left propagandists and the Congress party leaders had taken to social media to blame the ‘Hindus’ for ‘shaming’ the country by waving the Indian flag, which according to them was interference in the US internal affairs.

However, it was later revealed that it was not a Hindu supremacist or a ‘Bhakt’ who waved the Indian flag at a political protest outside Capitol Hill in Washington DC on Wednesday, but an engineer named Vincent Xavier from Kerala, a fan and follower of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. We had reported in detail regarding the presence of Vincent Xavier in the Capitol Hill protests, where he had unfurled the tricolour in support of outgoing US President Donald Trump.

Fire at a District General Hospital in Maharashtra claims lives of 10 new-born babies aged between 1 to 2 months: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Fire at a District General Hospital in Maharashtra claims lives of 10 new-born babies aged between 1 to 2 months: Details

In a gut-wrenching incident that transpired at 2 AM on the 9th of January, 10 newborn babies died in a fire that broke out at Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) at Bhandara District General Hospital. There were a total of seventeen babies kept in the Unit. Civil Surgeon, Dr Parmod Khandate said that seven children were safely rescued by the fire brigade personnel but the other ten babies could not be saved. The deceased infants aged between one month to two months.

According to reports, a nurse who saw smoke coming out from the neonatal section of the hospital informed the doctors and the other staff. Dr Khandate said that the newborn babies’ ward required a continuous supply of oxygen. He said that the staff used the fire extinguishers to douse the fire but there was too much smoke.

“Most newborns die due to suffocation. One baby had fatal injures, and two others had minor burn injuries. The rest inhaled a lot of smoke”, said Dr. Khandate. The outborn section where the fire broke out is for children born at other places but referred to the hospital for some kind of special treatment.

The parents of the babies have reportedly been informed about the incident and the rescued babies have been shifted to another ward. Patients from the ICU ward, dialysis wing and labour ward were also shifted to other wards. The cause of fire has not yet been ascertained.

PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the tragedy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the unfortunate incident and extended condolences. He tweeted, “Heart-wrenching tragedy in Bhandara, Maharashtra, where we have lost precious young lives. My thoughts are with all the bereaved families. I hope the injured recover as early as possible”.

Terming the incident as “unfortunate” Home Minister Amit Shah expressed condolences over the death of the new-born babies.

Maharashtra CM orders probe

Following the tragic incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray spoke to the state Health Minister Rajesh Tope and the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police, Bhandara district and ordered an investigation into the matter. The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased babies.

‘SC of Hindu Rashtra’, ‘Eunuch’, ‘Har*mzada’: Former head of Amnesty India, Aakar Patel, goes on a tirade against Judiciary

OpIndia Staff
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‘SC of Hindu Rashtra’, ‘Eunuch’, ‘Har*mzada’: Former head of Amnesty India, Aakar Patel, goes on a tirade against Judiciary

Human rights ‘activist’ and former Head of Amnesty India, Aakar Patel, went on an unprovoked and contemptuous rant against the Supreme Court of India on Friday night. He had earlier tried to incite Muslims and Dalits to resort to violence.

In a sexist and transphobic tweet, he compared the judges of the apex court with ‘eunuch’, suggesting that they were not ‘manly’ enough to stand up for the Judiciary. While referring to the sexual harassment case against erstwhile CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Aakar Patel wrote, “Eunuch judges of Supreme Court of Hindu Rashtra let sexual harasser Chief Justice appear in a case where he was himself accused. And we must genuflect to it as if it were some oracle of Delhi.”

Screengrab of Aakar Patel’s contentious tweets

However, on being slammed for his sexist remarks, he was quick to backtrack and delete his tweet. However, he did not stop with his tirade. He decided to replace the word ‘eunuch’ with ‘haramzada’. The former Amnesty India Head wrote, “Am deleting this tweet to remove the word eunuch and replacing it with haramzada. My apologies for using eunuch.”

Screengrab of Aakar Patel’s contentious tweets

Aakar Patel, nevertheless continued his vile tirade unabated. Labelling the Supreme Court of India as the apex court of ‘Hindu Rashtra’, he wondered whether children would be taught against the sexual harassment case against former CJI Ranjan Gogoi.

He claimed, “Wonder if our children will be taught that Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi-who sent thousands to torture in Assam-sat in judgement in his own case. That the SC of Hindu Rashtra dismissed it.” Patel further accused Gogoi of leveraging his position to get a Rajya Sabha ticket, suggesting that he had been close to the current political dispensation at the Centre.

Screengrab of Aakar Patel’s contentious tweets

As a matter of fact, an in-house committee of the Supreme Court, comprising of Justices S A Bobde, Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee, submitted its report on 5th May 2019, which said that they found no substance in the allegations contained in the allegations levelled against Ranjan Gogoi by a former female employee.

In another contemptuous tweet, Aakar Patel claimed that the Supreme Court, whose duty is to check the Executive’s overreach, has been intentionally chosen to be ‘pusillanimous’ (devoid of courage) and a ‘coward’. “It is the Judiciary that has power over there executive’s overreach. The fact that it has been pusillanimous and cowardly under Modi is a choice. Especially the Supreme Court of Hindu Rashtra.”

Screengrab of Aakar Patel’s contentious tweets

The tainted track record of Aakar Patel

On 31st May last year, while quoting a tweet by Colorado Times Recorder featuring a video of thousands of people running riots in Capitol in Colorado, Aakar Patel had tweeted that India Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis, women and poor also need to do protests like these. “We need protests like these. From Dalits and Muslims and Adivasis. And the poor. And women. The world will notice. Protest is a craft,” he had tweeted. His Twitter account was withheld thereafter.

Aakar Patel was booked under IPC sections 505(1)(b) (with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility), 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 117 (Abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than ten persons).

Govt rejects blackmail of farmer organisations of Punjab, protesters decry ‘democracy’ because govt wants to let the Court decide

OpIndia Staff
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Govt rejects blackmail of farmer organisations of Punjab, protesters decry ‘democracy’ because govt wants to let the Court decide

The road-blockages and protests by select farmer organisations, mainly from Punjab, against the three farm bills passed by the Modi government had progressed into the second month now. As the farmer organisations hardened their stand and refused to accept any changes short of the laws being completely repealed, the government too has now refused to give in to the blackmail. It is now being reported that the government has flat-out refused to repeal the laws and instead, told the farmer organisations that owing to the stalemate in talks, it would be best if the matter is left to the Court to decide.

The government, in its response, said that they were amenable to the amendments and concessions but not with the demand of complete rollback of the three newly introduced Farm Bills. The Centre implied that the farmers union can either arrive at a better deal with the government or let the court decide the matter.

In its previous hearings, the Court had suggested instituting a committee which should include not just the protesting unions from Punjab, Haryana and western UP but other parts of the country as well. In such a committee, there’s a possibility that all the 40 demonstrating unions who are in talks with the Centre may not be accommodated.

The top court is to hear the matter on Monday while the next round of talks between the two sides is planned to take place on January 15.

Farmers’ union reluctant to take the matter to the Supreme Court

The central government’s sharp and blunt response did not sit well with the protesting farmers’ union and they expressed their disappointment for letting Supreme Court intervene in the matter. The union was profoundly perturbed that the Centre wanted the matter to be resolved by the court of law.

“It is a sad day for democracy that an elected government in the middle of talks resorts to the Supreme Court and says let’s get this resolved through the court,” said Kavitha Kuruganti of Mahila Kisan Adhikar Manch after the eight-round of talks ended.

Realising that their demands may not hold water in the Supreme Court, the farm groups asserted that they would continue to protest and intensify it and not retreat even if the apex court asked them to end the demonstrations.

BKU Ekta Ugrahan president Joginder Singh Ugrahan reiterated the maximalist stance held by the farmers’ group. Speaking in an interview to TOI, Singh said, “We had no hopes from the meeting and it progressed on the expected lines. The government is not at all ready to repeal the laws but we are not ready for anything less.”

Krantikari Kisan Union president Darshan Pal said that they will not be putting forth their case in the Supreme Court. Pal defiantly stated that even if the court asks them to lift the protests, they will not heed to the court’s order and continue protesting.

The farmers’ unions are not interested in approaching the Supreme Court because they claim that the issue is of the policy domain and not of a legal or technical matter. However, the Centre believes that in the matters related to protest against the constitutionality of the laws, the country’s highest court should make a decision.

The Court will submit to the Supreme Court on January 11 what it has offered to the protesting farmers’ union. It is pertinent to note that the Centre has already conceded two of the four demands made by the demonstrators. The Centre has exempted the farmers from being penalised under the ‘Commission for the Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2020’ for stubble burning. Besides, it has also decided to withdraw the ‘Electricity Amendment Bill 2020’.   

The eighth round of talks between farmers and Centre ends on an inconclusive note

Earlier on Friday, the eighth round of talks between the protesting groups and the Centre ended on an inconclusive note after the farmers’ unions remained stubborn on their demand of revoking the three Farm Laws. Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar while speaking to the media informed that the farmers’ unions were asked to offer an option other than repealing the laws, but they provided no option and therefore the next round of talks was shifted to January 15.

Meanwhile, the demonstrators have stepped up their efforts to pressurise the Centre into accepting their demands. A new protest site has come up at Gangaicha border in Rewari even as the protest in Manesar is gathering steam. Until now, the Singhu border has been the protest site where the so-called farmers had camped in opposition to the newly introduced Farm Bills. The demonstrators have been stubbornly demanding the annulment of the three laws while the central government has said that the complete rollback of the laws is off the negotiation table.

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