The Supreme Court-appointed panel on the three new farm laws will hold its first meeting with farmers on January 21, said panel member Anil Ghanwat on Tuesday, adding that it will be a challenge for the committee to persuade the farmers to talk about their issues.
Ghanwat during a press conference, said, "The physical meeting will be held with those organisations who want to meet us in person. Video conferencing will be held with those who can't come to us.”
"If the government wants to come and speak with us, we welcome it. We will hear the Government side, too. The biggest challenge is to convince the agitating farmers to come and speak with us, we will try our level best," he added.
On January 12, the Supreme Court temporarily suspended the implementation of the Centre's three farm laws and named a committee of four experts and ordered it to submit its report within two months. The committee has been directed to negotiate with the farmers and submit its suggestions concerning the farm laws within two months from the date of its first sitting.
Members of the committee have said that they will remain neutral and solve the impasse between the government and the farmers. “When we get this kind of responsibility, we have to work impartially. Will work fairly. We do not have to give our views. We have to present the views of the farmer unions before the Supreme Court," Dr PK Joshi, member of the committee said. He also added that the committee members will request the protesting farmers to discuss openly with them and convince them to meet them.
Another member of the committee, agriculture economist Ashok Gulati mentioned talking to the stakeholders and also to those who are opposing and supporting farm laws, along with the state governments. Mr Gulati also said they will place the farmer unions opinions before the SC.
The committee consisted of Bhartiya Kisan Union President Bhupinder Singh Mann, Shetkari Sanghatana president Anil Ghanwat, and agri-economists Ashok Gulati and Pramod Kumar Joshi.
However, shortly after the committee members were named, Bhupinder Singh recused himself from the committee and said: "I will always stand with my farmers and Punjab".
Farmers' leaders have refused to accept the committee, saying their members have already supported the farm laws, openly.
The Agriculture Ministry on Monday said the 10th round of talks with the farmers' representatives that was scheduled for January 19 has been postponed to January 20.