Chandigarh: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday said that it would not take part in the upcoming January 3 meeting of the high powered committee appointed by Supreme Court (SC) with farmer leaders to discuss their issues as it was not with the ongoing protests at Shambhu, Khanauri borders where farmers have been protesting under aegis of SKM (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) for over 10 months.

The SKM said in  statement that though the top court panel had invited it to join the meeting to discuss the farmers issues in the context of blockade at the two borders named above, at the meeting which was scheduled to be held at Panchkula, near here, on January 3, it would not attend it as it was not a part of the said protest.

Also, the SKM, in principle, did not accept the intervention of the court because the farmers were fighting on policy issues with the Union government, hence, the court had no role to play, the statement added.

The apex court had formed the committee in September 2024 headed by former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Nawab Singh.

It may be recalled that a number of farmers have been protesting to press the Centre for their various demands including minimum support price (MSP) and debt waiver and camping at the barricaded Shambhu and Khanauri borders of Punjab and Haryana since February 13, 2024. Under their protest ``Delhi chalo’’ march 2.0 – the first being in the 2020-2021 – their attempts to move towards Delhi were thwarted on December 6, 8, and 14 by Haryana police by lobbing teargas shells, leading to injuries to many of them.

Meanwhile, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, about 70, who is a cancer patient, has also been on a fast-unto-death at Khanuari border since November 26 last, though the top court has directed the Punjab government to ensure he gets immediate medical aid.

Meanwhile, the farmer leaders also announced that they would celebrate Guru Gobind Jayanti on January 6. Also, the farmer unions have also given a call for ``kisan mahapanchayat’’ at Khanauri border on January 4, 2025.