Mann opts out of SC appointed panel on farm laws

Bhartiya Kisan Union's national president Bhupinder Singh Mann has recuses himself from the Supreme Court-appointed committee to look into the Centre's contentious farm laws, saying he did not wish to "compromise farmers' interests". His decision came a day ahead of the next round of talks between the government and the farmers. The matter will now go back to the court for further orders. Mann is one of the few farm union leaders to have come out in support of the Centre's new farm laws. He was part of a group of farmers that met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar in December. The BKU also tweeted an unsigned text statement purportedly issued by Mann.

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 SC on Tuesday 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.