New Delhi :The Supreme Court on Friday said in a democratic set-up, the farmers protesting at the Shambhu border, have a right to voice their grievances and their sentiments should not be hurt, and as far as tractors and JCB machines are concerned, the state can persuade them with statesmanship to take those machines back to their respective farmlands. The apex court stressed it favours a smooth beginning, in terms of a dialogue process between all the sides, and state governments can propose some neutral persons to resolve the issue.
A bench comprising justices Surya Kant and R Mahadevan asked the Punjab and Haryana governments to propose some neutral personalities, who could be approached for constituting an independent committee to reach out to farmers protesting regarding their demands like legal guarantee of MSP for their produce.
Justice Kant told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Haryana government, and Punjab government counsel that nobody should precipitate the situation. “Don't hurt their (farmers’) sentiments. But as a state...with statesmanship… you try to persuade them that as far as tractors are concerned, JCB machines are concerned, other agricultural equipment is concerned, let those be taken to places where those are required like agricultural farms, agricultural lands….," said Justice Kant.
Justice Kant stressed that in a democratic set-up, the farmers’ have a right to voice their grievances and asked Mehta to suggest some names of neutral people for the formation of the panel. “We want a smooth beginning, in terms of a dialogue process between all the sides. Please think of names, there are very seasoned political personalities in the country who have a lot of experience to their credit and they know the ins and outs, they can give better solutions. But, sometimes there is a mind block, ( the farmers’) may think he has come with…even if the person goes with best (of the intentions)”, said Justice Kant.
Justice Kant said that sometimes it is said that judges should be involved in this process but judges are not experts there may be some former judges have farming backgrounds, therefore think with an open mind. “There can be agricultural scientists, there can be agricultural economists…”, said Justice Kant, urging the council to think of neutral persons who can be on the panel to reach out to the protesting farmers.