Farm laws repealed – Huge victory for India's agricultural population after a year-long non-violent struggle, and hundreds of lives lost

NB: This is the first major setback for the corporate gangsters running India’s people and its democracy into the ground with their greed and arrogance. Perhaps the Supreme Court will reflect on why they did not take direct notice of the government making uniform laws for the whole country on what is a state subject. I congratulate the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha for giving a year of their precious time, sacrificing wealth and hundreds of lives, speaking up for political prisoners, and for defending Indian democracy by organising a continent-wide non-violent satyagraha against a ruthless government.

The whole country is indebted to you. Salaam comrades!

Listen to this kisan’s views on the Modi Government

Maybe those loudmouths who talk nonsense day and night about independence being obtained by bheekh (begging) will think again on whether this people’s victory could have succeeded if farmers had resorted to violence. I salute the Indian farmers, and thank those from around the world who stood by and still stand by the Indian people. DS

Farm laws repealed

Narendra Modi Friday announced that his government would repeal the three farm laws passed by Parliament a year ago, which has led to massive protests by farmers unions in several states. The procedure to rollback the laws would take place during the winter session of Parliament, which begins next week, the Prime Minister informed.

In an address to the nation on Guru Nanak Jayanti, PM Modi said, “We worked to provide farmers with seeds at reasonable rates and facilities like micro-irrigation, 22 crore soil health cards. Such factors have contributed to increased agricultural production. However, we failed to make them understand about the benefits of the new laws and as such, we have decided to roll them back.”

After several rounds of talks between the government and farmer unions failed to end the protests, the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of three farm laws. Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and other states have been camping at Delhi’s borders since November 2020 in protest against the three legislations, the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020. The protests have continued for over a year as deliberations between the government and farmers unions failed.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/modi-address-to-nation-live-updates-7630350/

The Congress on Friday demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the families of the over 700 farmers who had lost their lives during the year-long agitation against the three controversial farm laws. It also posed five questions to the government on steps to support farmers.

The main Opposition party said the defeat of the BJP in the recent Assembly bypolls has prompted the government to repeal the laws. Several Congress leaders said the government decided to take back the laws fearing a setback in the forthcoming Assembly elections in five states.

“What cannot be achieved by democratic protests can be achieved by the fear of impending elections! PM’s announcement on the withdrawal of the three farm laws is not inspired by a change of policy or a change of heart. It is impelled by fear of elections! Anyway, it is a great victory for the farmers and for the Congress party which was unwavering in its opposition to the farm laws,” said Congress leader P Chidambaram.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/modi-address-to-nation-live-updates-7630350/

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