Supreme Court while staying the implementation of the Farm Laws has formed a 4 member committee (as reported by Bar and Bench). many question has been raised on these members.
So, lets see who these four members are:
1. Bhupinder Singh Mann:
– He is the National President of the Bharatiya Kisan Union.
– He was also a former Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab.
– He has been backing the farm laws while demanding certain amendments in them.
– On 1st September, he wrote to Modi saying he was “Thrilled and Happy” when he first heard of the new farm laws. (as reported by The Print)
2. Dr. Pramod Kumar Joshi:
– He is an “Agricultural Economist”.
– He has written several blogs in favor of the Finance Ministry’s “Farmer Friendly” budgets since 2014
– He has been trumpeting about how Modi will be doubling income of farmers by 2020.
3. Ashok Gulati:
– He is an “Agricultural Economist”.
– On 1st Oct 2020 Gulati had written in the Indian Express how the new farm bills are a step in the right direction.
– On 18th May 2020 he had written how the proposed reforms in farm laws are addressing a longstanding need of the farmers.
– On May 16th, IANS had reported that he was being contemplated by Modi as a pick for the Union Agriculture Ministry.
4. Anil Ghanawat:
– He is the President of Shetkari Sanghatana
– He had led the agitation in FAVOR of GM crops.
– On 30th Sept 2020, Ghanawat had led a show of support for the Center’s Farm Bills
– On 8th Dec 2020, Ghanawat had tried to form a pro-farm laws lobby in Maharashtra
– On 21st Dec 2020, Anil Ghanawat had declared that the Center should not withdraw the farm laws
With these 4 people as the only members of the committee formed to scrutinize and mediate between the farmers and the Central Govt by the SC, you dont need to tell you what exactly is in the minds of the SC while forming this committee.
The Supreme Court’s decision to stay the three controversial farm laws and form a four-member committee to “take discussions forward” is an important turning point in the confrontation between the Centre and protesting farmers.
On one hand, the SC’s decision to stay the three laws is a victory for the protesting farmers as it at least provides a temporary reprieve from the farm laws.
Legal challenges to at least two other government legislations – the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act – didn’t get even this concession.
The total lockdown and mass arrests of political leaders and workers prevented large-scale protests in Kashmir.
While the CAA sparked a large-scale protest, there are important differences on why no concessions were given to it, unlike the farm laws.
