Photo Source; Babushahi Bureau
Opening of Shambhu Border: Farmers question over forming committee, call it a delaying tactic
Harish Monga
Ferozepur, September 3, 2024: Farmers' forums – Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM-Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) will meet to respond to the Supreme Court's decision to form a committee regarding the reopening of the Haryana Shambhu border, which has been closed since before February 13.
Five members of the committee are – former HC Judge, Consumer Panel Head Justice Nawab Singh, Punjab Farm Workers Commission Chairman Prof Sukhpal Singh, GNDU Prof, who served as MSP panel head Prof Ranjit Singh Ghuman, Agri-Food Policy Expert, Devinder Sharma, Former DGP B.S.Sandhu, and Hisar University VC who got Swaminathan Award Prof B R Kamboj.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher criticized the move as a delaying tactic adding that farmers did not block the highway—it's the Haryana government that has done so, causing inconvenience to the public.
Pandher argued that the committee is a ploy to delay addressing farmers' real concerns, like a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Also Read: Shambu Border: Know the panel members of committee formed by SC for resolving farmers' concerns
He emphasized that a committee would be ineffective if the government failed to resolve the issues.Both forums are set to decide whether to engage with the committee or continue their protest independently.
However, the apex court bench has said that this gesture will provide huge relief to the general public, who are facing extreme hardships due to the highway blockade.
It will also facilitate the high-powered committee and both states to consider the farmers' genuine and just demands in a dispassionate and objective manner.