Farmers Union moves SC against mediation committee; days after BKU Prez quits panel

In a massive development, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lok Shakti) moved to Supreme Court on Saturday against formation of a four-member committee to resolve delock between farmers and Centre over new agriculture laws. Farmer unions and opposition parties have raised doubts over composition of panel, insisting that its members have been in favour of three laws in past. 
 
development comes two days after BKU national president Bhupinder Singh Mann, who was appointed to Supreme Court's committee to mediate talks, resigned from panel.

In a letter, Bhupinder Singh Mann said that he declined offer so as to "t compromise with interests of Punjab and farmers of country." Asserting that he stands with farmers of country, Mann said he is withdrawing himself from panel in light of "sentiments and apprehensions amongst farm unions and farmers."

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After his resignation, committee stands comprising three members namely-- agricultural ecomist Ashok Gulati, Pramod Kumar Joshi- Director, South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute, and Shetkari Sanghatana president, Anil Ghanwat. This panel has been asked to submit its recommendations pertaining to Farm Laws to top court within two months from date of its first sitting. 

Centre-Farmer talks inconclusive

Centre's 9th round of talks with farmers' unions concluded with a detailed discussion on all three farm laws especially Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. Union Agricultural Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said Centre tried to dress concerns of farmers but agreement could be reached. Moreover, he revealed that farmer leers h rejected Centre's request to form a smaller committee to air ir grievances.

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SC stays implementation of farm laws

A three-judge SC bench comprising Chief Justice SA Bobde, Justice AS Bopanna, and Justice V Ramasubramanian laid down romap for resolution of standoff over three farm laws passed by Parliament. It has t only ordered that MSP system in place before enactment of farm laws shall continue but also me it clear that landholdings of farmers shall be protected. 

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ditionally, representatives of all farmer unions, irrespective of wher y are holding a protest or t, were asked to participate in deliberations of 4-member committee and put forth ir viewpoints.

Though court said that it did t intend to stifle a "peaceful protest", it appealed to farmers' unions to convince ir members to get back to ir livelihood as a result of this "extraordinary order"

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