Farm Laws to be Repealed, PM Modi Asks Farmers to Return Home

"Small-scale farmers are our priority," PM Narendra Modi told farmers on Gurpurab.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Image used for representational purposes. 

(Photo: PTI)

Almost one year after farmers sat in protest against the three controversial farm laws in Delhi and across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation on Friday, 19 November, said that his government will take them back. He requested the protesting farmers to return to their homes.

"Maybe something was lacking in our tapasya, which is why we could not convince some farmers about the laws. So we have decided to repeal the three farm laws," he said, announcing his government's decision to roll back the laws.

"A majority of farmers are small-scale farmers. And to help them, we took on a multifaceted approach from seed technology, crop insurance schemes. Our government is doing its best to serve farmers. Efforts are being made to improve their financial well-being. Farm laws were actually brought to help small farmers."

PM Narendra Modi

'Tried Our Best to Explain to Farmers'

He said that his government has not been been able to convince farmers, and stressed that a section of them continued opposing even when the government tried to educate and inform them.

"We tried our best to explain to farmers. We were even ready to modify the laws, suspend them too. The matter reached the Supreme Court as well."

"One lakh crore have been given to farmers as compensation. Bima and pension too have been provided. There has been direct benefit transfer as well for the farmers," he added.

PM Modi also announced that a committee comprising representatives of the Centre, state governments, farmers, agriculture scientists and agriculture economists would be formed to discuss how Minimum Support Price (MSP) can be made more effective, how zero budget farming can be promoted and how crop patterns can be changed in a scientific manner.

Protests Since November 2020

Thousands of farmers have been protesting against the Centre’s farm laws since 26 November 2020 at the Tikri, Singhu, and Ghazipur borders. They have repeatedly asserted that the three laws enacted in 2020 were against their interest, while the Centre has been saying that they are pro-farmer.

The Supreme Court had earlier in October stated that the protesting farmers were not responsible for the "inconvenience caused" due to the protest. Instead, it was the responsibility of the authorities.

Even after several rounds of talks between the Centre and the farmers, the conflict remained and farmers continued protesting for almost a year.