Have strangulated entire city, now want to come inside: SC pulls up farmers group

New Delhi, Oct 1: The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up a farmers group for approaching the court and continuing with the protests at the same time by blocking the national highways in Delhi-NCR. The apex court said that the protesting farmers have "strangulated" the entire city and now wants to come inside the city. A Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar said there is no purpose of protests if you come to courts. The apex court noted that protesting farmers are obstructing traffic, blocking trains and national highways and said that this "coaxing should stop", reported news agency ANI. The Bench asked Kisan Mahapanchayat, seeking permission to allow to hold Satyagrah at Jantar Mantar, to file an affidavit that they are not part of the farmers protest blocking the national highways by Monday. Kisan Mahapanchayat told the Bench that it is not part of the group of protesters which have blocked the roads in Delhi-NCR and also the roads were blocked by the police and not the farmers. The apex court then asked the organisation to file an affidavit stating it was not part of farmers protest blocking the national highways. The Bench posted the matter for hearing on October 4. It also asked the counsel to serve an advance copy of the petition on the Attorney General for India KK Venugopal. Kisan Mahapanchayat, a farmers group, has moved the top court seeking directions to the authorities to allow it to stage peaceful and non-violent 'Satyagraha' at Jantar Mantar, Delhi. It sought direction to the Central Government, Lieutenant Governor and Commissioner of Delhi Police to provide space to at least 200 farmers or protestors of the Mahapanchayat at Jantar Mantar for organising 'Satyagraha' and to not stop them from proceeding towards Jantar Mantar.