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’Will always stand with farmers’: Bhupinder Mann recuses himself from SC-appointed panel


Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Jan 14, 2021:     The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) has claimed that former MP Bhupinder Singh Mann, who,  was one of the four members in the Supreme Court-appointed panel of farm laws, has recused himself from the role.

 

Bhupinder Singh


In a tweet, the Bhartiya Kisan Union said, "Bhupinder Singh Mann Ex-MP and national president of BKU and chairman of All India Kisan Coordination Committee has recused himself from the four-member committee constituted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court."

The BKU also tweeted an unsigned text statement purportedly issued by Mann.

"I am thankful to the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India for nominating me in the four-member committee to start dialogue with kisan unions on the three laws brought in by the central government. As a farmer myself and a union leader, 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," the statement reads.

In the statement, Mann added, "I am recusing myself from the committee and I will always stand with my farmers and Punjab."

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of controversial new farm laws till further orders and constituted a four-member committee to resolve the impasse over them between the Centre and farmers’ unions protesting at Delhi borders.In its interim order, the court directed that the committee shall held its first sitting within 10 days from Tuesday.

The bench headed by CJI SA Bobde said this committee is "constituted for the purpose of listening to the grievances of the farmers relating to the farm laws and the views of the government and to make recommendations".

However, questions have been raised over the neutrality of the members of this committee as all four members have publicly supported the farm laws against which farmers have been protesting for months now.

The four members are: Bhupinder Singh Mann, President of Bhartiya Kisan Union; Anil Ghanwat, President of Shetkari Sangthana, Maharashtra; Pramod Kumar Joshi, director for South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute, and agriculture economist Ashok Gulati.


Courtesy:India Today