Will Not Compensate Families Of Farmers Who Lost Lives During Protests: Centre Tells Lok Sabha

Thousands of protesters, mostly from Punjab, have been camping in the border areas of Delhi-NCR since November 26 raising a demand that the Central Government repeal the recently passed farmers laws.

Reportedly, over 70 farmers have died during these protests. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has registered 39 cases against the protesting farmers.

The Central Government on Tuesday said it does not intend to compensate the families of such farmers. It added,

"Government of India during discussion with these farmers' Union representatives appealed many times that children and elders including women should be requested to go home in view of the cold and COVID situation and other hardships."

The Centre further reiterated that the it does not propose to end MSP. In response to a question asked by BJP MP Mukesh Rajput if the Government is planning to end Minimum Support Price, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare said,

"No Sir, the Government does not have any proposal to end MSP."

The Supreme Court is hearing a batch of PILs seeking immediate removal of protesting farmers from border areas of Delhi-NCR on the ground that they increase the risk of COVID-19 spread in Delhi. the Top Court is also seized with petitions challenging the three Farm Laws.

Significantly, vide order dated January 12, 2020, the Supreme Court stayed the operation of the three Acts until further Orders. It ordered that the MSP system as it existed before the enactment of the laws must be continued and no farmer shall be dispossessed or deprived of his title as a result of any action taken under the laws.

The Top Court also constituted a Committee to facilitate negotiations between the Government and the farmers. However, the composition of the said committee was not received well, following which the Supreme Court said it will consider re-constitution of the Committee.

Link to related reports are given below in a chronological order:

• "Your Negotiation Does Not Work Apparently, We Will Form A Committee To Resolve The Issue":Supreme Court On Farmers Protest
• Supreme Court Hints At Stay On Implementation Of Farm Laws And Formation Of Committee, Will Pass Order
• Supreme Court Suspends Implementation Of Three farm Laws Until Further Orders
• Supreme Court Forms Committee To Negotiate On Farm Laws With Members Supporting Farm Laws Implementation
• Bhupinder Singh Mann Recuses From Supreme Court Formed Committee To Negotiate On Farm Laws
• Farmers' Union Requests Supreme Court To Remove The Remaining Members Of Committee Constituted To Resolve Deadlock Between Farmers and Govt
• 'They Are Brilliant Minds; Why Malign Them For Their Views?' : CJI On Criticism Against Farm Laws Committee
• Supreme Court Issues Notice On Plea For Reconstitution Of Committee To Resolve Deadlock Between Farmers and Govt
• "Farmer Unions Will Not Appear Before Committee, They Are Totally Convinced That Farm Laws Need To Be Repealed": Dave, Bhushan Tell Supreme Court
• Ready To Suspend Implementation Of Farm Laws For 1-1.5 Yrs To Mutually Discuss The Solution: Agri. Minister Narendra Tomar