Punjab farmers petition Supreme Court against farm laws

Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) of Punjab filed a plea at the Apex Court seeking abeyance of provisions of the farm laws. It added that the Punjab government too should approach the court against the laws.

New Delhi:Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) of Punjab on Monday moved the Supreme court against three Farm Acts. The Union filed a 400-page petition against the acts. The three farm bills -- The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020 were signed by the President of India and notified by Law Ministry.

"The potential beneficiary of these acts are farmers. But while drafting bills they were not consulted. Agriculture is a State issue and we request Punjab Government to approach the court as well. The Union Government should listen to farmer pleas. These acts are part of the constitution under Section 32. We have requested the court to withhold the implementation of the acts until the matter is in court," said Advocate G S Ghuman who filed the petition on behalf of farmers.

"We have been making requests to everyone including the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister and Governor for the last two months against the farmer acts. There are protests in Punjab on roads and railway stations. Women, children and senior citizens are part of the protests. No one is listening to us. Finally, we have approached the court and hope we will get justice," said Harinder Singh Lakhowal, General Secretary, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal).

Punjab Government and all opposition parties except BJP is supporting the farmers. Shiromani Akali Dal recently pulled out of NDA alliance and Union cabinet marking protest over the bills. In the coming days, a special session of Vidhan Sabha is expected to meet to discuss measures against these acts.