In yet another attempt to persuade farmers to end their protest and hold talks with the Center, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on December 17 , wrote an 8-page open letter to farmers, appealing to them not to fall prey to “the lies spread by the Opposition” regarding the farm laws.
In his letter, Tomar claimed that several farmers’ unions in the country have “welcomed” the new farm laws, but there are some farmers’ unions camping outside Delhi who have created “confusions” regarding these laws. He also said the government is ready to give a written assurance regarding MSP.
Meanwhile, The Supreme Court postponed the hearing and advised the government to consider putting the farm reform laws on hold. The court once again suggested forming a committee to resolve the deadlock. Also, a bench of the Delhi High Court refused to entertain a PIL seeking removal of agitating farmers from Delhi’s borders.
Farmers’ leaders — Balbir Singh rajewal, JS Dallellwal, Bhangu, Kiranjit Sikh will meet lawyers — HS Phoolka, Prashant Bhushan, Dushyant Dave, Colin Gonsalves — today. During the hearing of a plea in the Supreme Court farmers were represented by lawyers Vineet Parikh, Prashant Bhushan, Colin Gonsalves and Dushyant Dave, while the central government was represented in court by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, senior advocates Harish Salve and OP Parihar appeared for the petitioner.
