New Delhi: Merely two days after the Supreme Court “suspended” the “implementation” of three farm laws and also set up a four-member expert committee to “negotiate” between the farmers and the government, one of the members of the committee has opted out of the panel.
Bhartiya Kisan Union President Bhupinder Singh Mann has recused himself from the Supreme Court-appointed committee, on the grounds that he did not wish to compromise farmers’ interests.
He stated that while he will always stand with the farmers and Punjab, his decision came in mainly in view of the prevailing sentiments and apprehensions amongst the farm unions and the public in general.
“I am ready to sacrifice any position offered or given to me so as to not compromise the interests of Punjab and farmers of the country,” he said.
The Supreme Court, on Tuesday formed a panel with Ashok Gulati (Agricultural economist), Bhupinder Singh Mann (President, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Mann), Anil Ghanwat (President, Shetkari Sangathan) and Pramod Kumar Joshi (International Food Policy Research Institute) as its members.
The agitating farmers had however made it clear that they are rejectng committee as all the four panel members are favouring the Farm laws.
“We don’t accept this committee, all the members in this committee have been pro-government and these members have been justifying the laws,” said Punjab farmers’ unions.
