‘Ready To Sacrifice Any Position To Stand With Farmers,’ Bhupinder Singh Mann Recuses Himself From SC-Appointed Panel

Mann said that being a farmers and union leader he would stand with the farmers and would sacrifice any position offered to him so as to not compromise the interests of Punjab and farmers of the country.

Protesting farmers burnt copies of the contentious farm laws to mark the festival of Lohri on Wednesday, while a farmer union gave a call for massive mobilisation of people from all districts within a radius of 300 kilometres of Delhi for the proposed 'Kisan Parade' on January 26. (Image: PTI)

Farmers' Protest:  Bhartiya Kisan Union national president Bhupinder Singh Mann, a former MP, who was one of the four members of the Supreme Court-appointed committee on farm laws, said he is recusing himself from the panel. Making the announcement on Thursday, Mann said he is thankful to the court for nominating him on the committee but would sacrifice any position offered to him so as not to compromise the interests of farmers. “While I am thankful to the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India for nominating me in the 4 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” he stated.

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 Hon'ble Supreme Court pic.twitter.com/pHZhKXcVdT

— Bhartiya Kisan Union (@BKU_KisanUnion) January 14, 2021

The inclusion of the 81-year-old former MP has stoked a controversy. Mann said that being a farmers and union leader he would stand with the farmers and would sacrifice any position offered to him so as to not compromise the interests of Punjab and farmers of the country. The Supreme Court had on Tuesday stayed the implementation of controversial new farm laws till further orders and decided to set up a 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.