SC decision on farm laws shows Modi govt's failure: Yechury

CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury hailed the Supreme Court's decision to put the farm laws on hold and said that the top court's order is a clear message that this government has been an utter failure as far as the handling of farm laws and farmers protests are concerned.

New Delhi: Supreme Court in its order on Tuesday, stayed the implementation of three farm reform laws brought by the central government in June and later passed by the parliament in September last year.

Farmer unions from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have been protesting against the three laws for the last 48 days on Delhi borders.

After 8 rounds of talks between the government and the farmer unions which remained inconclusive, the Supreme Court decided to put the three laws on hold till further order.

ETV Bharat talked to General Secretary of CPI(M), Sitaram Yechury on the latest development who welcomed the apex court's decision and also suggested the way forward.

"Supreme Court's order today is a clear message that this government has been an utter failure as far as the handling of farm laws and farmers protests are concerned," he said.

Supreme Court has also set up a four-member committee to resolve the deadlock between protesting farmers unions and the government. However, the farmer unions have already refused to participate in any such committee.

CPIM general secretary also suggested the same today.

"Farmers' point is what is the need for any such committee? The matter is between the farmers and the government, we have been suggesting that the government should first withdraw these laws and then discuss agriculture reforms with farmers and the other stakeholders including the government's corporate friends," he said.

He also asked the government to bring all the proposals to the parliament for a proper discussion.

Yechury further said that the government must implement the recommendations of the Swaminathan Committee, adding that the party will support whatever farmers decide.

Yechury along with D Raja also had a meeting with NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Delhi on Monday and the opposition party leaders also discussed on the ongoing farmers protest at Pawar's residence.

Yechury said that he has been in talks with the leaders of other opposition parties as well and the general opinion emerging out is that holding up the farm laws is the way forward before any final decision comes.