The Supreme Court-appointed committee to talk with the protesting farmers’ unions and the central government in order to reach a mutual consensus has cracked open even before its first sitting. Already, the farmers’ unions in their obstinacy to agree to nothing but a complete repeal of laws have declined to appear before the apex court-appointed committee.
Now, with a crucial member of the committee recusing himself from talks between the unions and the Centre, any settlement between the opposing sides seems unlikely in the near future. Bhupinder Singh Mann – national president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Mann) refused to be a part of the committee.
Mann, who is also chairman of the All-India Kisan Coordination Committee, recused himself from the committee saying he was “ready to sacrifice any position so as not to compromise the interest of Punjab and farmers of the country.” Intriguingly, Mann in September last had supported the farm reforms heralded by the Modi government, even as the BKU (Mann) – Haryana unit continues to vociferously defend the laws, raising the call of not just “one nation, one market”, but “one world, one market” instead.
Importantly, the committee was a mean of the protesting farmers making their voice heard before the Supreme Court since a majority of the protesting unions have not approached the court directly.
Mann, as a veteran farmer activist himself, could have played a constructive role in bringing out a resolution between the various unions and the central government. Yet, the man chose to appease the protestors through mere visuals, without actually muddying his feet by being a part of the committee.
The other members of the committee are Parmod Kumar Joshi, agricultural economist and Director for South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute; Ashok Gulati, agricultural economist and former chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices; and Anil Ghanwat, president, Shetkari Sanghatana. The committee is slated to meet most likely on January 19 in person.
Bhupinder Singh Mann has so far kept himself and his faction of the Bharatiya Kisan Union away from the ongoing anti-reform agitations. In fact, in September, he had shot off a three-page letter to PM Modi, asking for mere amendments to the laws.
The main suggestions of Mann were that of making MSP a legally guaranteed right, and also for agricultural land to be brought out of the ninth schedule of the Constitution, enabling farmers to approach the courts to seek justice.
Why the veteran activist has taken a U-turn is not yet clear. Reports suggest that Mann has received threats from Canada, although he has dismissed such allegations. Ideally, one would have clutched on to a golden opportunity of the nature Mann received. The man would have gone down as a hero in the annals of history had he brought about a resolution between the protestors and the government. Yet, he has recused himself of the same opportunity, citing moral reasons. Whether the Supreme Court chooses a replacement for Mann soon is yet to be seen.