Breaking- Bhupinder Singh Mann Recuses From Supreme Court Formed Committee To Negotiate On Farm Laws
S. Bhupinder Singh Mann, Ex MP and National President of BKU and Chairman of All India Kisan Coordination Committee. has recused himself from the 4 member committee constituted by Supreme Court"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 any position offered or given to me so as...
S. Bhupinder Singh Mann, Ex MP and National President of BKU and Chairman of All India Kisan Coordination Committee. has recused himself from the 4 member committee constituted by Supreme Court
"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 any position offered or given to me so as to not to compromise the interest of Punjab and farmers of the Country, I am recusing myself from the Committee and I willalways stand with my framers and Punjab", he said in a statement.
A notable feature of the composition was that all four members have expressed open views in support of the implementation of the farm laws.
Shri Bhupinder Singh Mann,who was a former MP of the Rajya Sabha, had in December led a delegation which met the Union Agriculture Minister to demand the implementation of the three laws, with certain amendments.
"Reforms are needed in order to make agriculture competitive. But safeguards are needed to protect farmers, and anomalies must also be corrected," he had said.
Mann's organization BKU was part of the protests at the beginning.
As per another report, the act of Mann meeting the Minister was not appreciated by other protesting farmers, who accused the government of trying to 'divide and defame' their movement, while 'sweet-talking' them into conceding amendments in the laws.
The composition of the Committee with members who support the implementation of laws have baffled many. Senior Advocate and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram said "the composition of the four member committee is puzzling and sends contradictory signals".
Dr Pramod Kumar Joshi, Agricultural Economist, Director for South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute
Dr Pramod Kumar Joshi, recently co-authored an article in the Financial Express which said "any dilution in the farm laws will constrain Indian agriculture to harness emerging global opportunities".
While strongly supporting the merits of the laws, the article said that "farmers are a victim of misinformation in the absence of effective communication from the government".
"It seems that some activists and political elements (who presumably would like to keep the disquiet alive for a long time) have hijacked the agitation by colouring the farm laws with a distorted narrative", the article stated.
Ashok Gulati, Agricultural Economist and Former Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices
Ashok Gulati has argued in an article written in the Indian Express that the farm laws are in the right direction. He commented that the opposition has been misguided. He said that the laws will "make Indian agriculture globally competitive, and benefit farmers and consumers alike".
Also, in an interview given to Karan Thappar for 'The Wire', Gulati repeatedly made it clear that he supports the government's agricultural reforms which he believes are very necessary. He suggested the suspension of the farm laws for 6 months to compensate the farmers but strongly argued against total repeal of the laws.
Anil Ghanwat