Protesting farmers called for reinforcements ahead of key SC hearing

Chandigarh: The farmer groups protesting against union government's new farm laws near Delhi, called for more to join them ahead of a crucial Supreme Court (SC) hearing this week that may decide the fate of their year-long blockade in the capital, NDTV reported. Farmer leaders urged protesters to come to Delhi borders from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and other states.

Earlier earlier, the SC had said that on October 21, it would examine whether the right to protest is absolute and if farmers have the right to take streets when the issue is in court. The court had sharply questioned the farmer's sit-in following the death of eight, including four farmers, in Lakhimpur Kheri in UP on October 3.

The SC had said that when such incidents happen, loss of lives and property occurs, and nobody takes responsibility. The SC was responding to a petition by a group of Rajasthan based farmers who wanted to initiate a "Satyagraha" with 200 people at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. But the court rejected the petition and objected to farmers filing a plea against the farm laws in Rajasthan High Court.

The union government had argued that no more farmer protests should be allowed as incidents like Lakhimpur Kheri cannot be tolerated. Appearing for the government, Attorney General KK Venugopal asked the court to stop the protests as "the laws are already being dealt with". He added that the protests would lead to unfortunate incidents.

SC had said that as the matter is already sub-judice, protests cannot be allowed. It also asked why farmers are protesting when the government has already stated it is not implementing the laws yet.

Earlier, SC had harshly criticised the protesting groups for strangulating the capital city.