"We make it clear that we recognize the fundamental right to protest against a law. Petitioners had approached the Supreme Court to complain that the protests had hampered drivers and making it difficult for people to access emergency medical services. "We are of the view at this stage that the farmers' protest should be allowed to continue without impediment and without any breach of peace either by the protesters or the police," Bobde said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration in September introduced the farm bills that the government says will unshackle farmers from having to sell their produce only at regulated wholesale markets and make contract farming easier. India's vast agriculture sector, which makes up nearly 15% of the country's $2.9 trillion economy, employs about half of its 1.3 billion people.

Source: Dhaka Tribune December 17, 2020 15:22 UTC