Centre Asks Top Court To Stop Farmers' Tractor Rally On January 26

The centre has urged the top Court to stop a tractor rally of farmers unions which is scheduled for January 26, on Republic Day.

The centre has pleaded to the supreme court to stop the tractor rally which will be held on January 26, if their demands are not met, of  scrapping the contentious farm laws. Moreover, Haryana farmers plan to hold a rally too, one tractor from each village joining in the rally.  The farmers are expecting at least 20,000 tractors in the rally.

In an affidavit filed in Supreme Court where the centre mentioned the constitutional and historic importance of the Republic Day. Talking about the grand rehearsal which will be held on January 23, and 3 back to back rallies including the National Cadet Corps rally on January 28, Beating the Retreat on January 29 and "Martyrs Day" on January 30, the centre government said that "Any disruption or obstruction in the said functions would not only be against the law and order, public order, public interest but would also be a huge embarrassment for the nation".

The farm laws, the centre government stated to the top court, were not hurriedly made but were the "result of two decades of deliberations". The farmers of the nation "are happy as they have been given an additional option over and above existing .no vested right are taken away" stated by the government.

The centre alleged that it has done its best to engage with farmers to remove any misunderstanding and wrong interpretation in the minds of farmers. "No efforts from the centre were found lacking," the affidavit stated. After Solicitor General Tushar Mehta raised the tractor rally issue during the hearing earlier in the day, the centre was asked by the court to file the affidavit. Mr. Mehta is in favor of stopping the rally and the Chief Justice of India had asked the government to file an application for the same. The top Court, who was hearing a bunch of petitions regarding the farmer rally, had advised that the contentious laws be put on stay at the hearing. An order in the matter will be passed on Tuesday.

The court has also advised that the formation of a committee to negotiate on the issue of laws. However, the farmers refused to attend the committee after having an internal meeting.