India will repeal three controversial farm laws that led to angry street protests by farmers' unions over the past year in what is described as the biggest climbdown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he assumed power in 2014. Thousands of farmers have been camping at Delhi's borders for a year, protesting against the reforms. They say the laws will allow the entry of private players in farming and that will hurt their income. Several rounds of talks with the government over the past few months failed as ministers insisted that laws were good for farmers. In a televised address to the nation on Friday, the prime minister apologized for failing to convince a section of farmers and said the parliament will repeal the controversial legislation by end of the month. "The purpose of the new laws was to strengthen the country's farmers,especially small farmers," he said. "We have failed to convince some farmers despite all our efforts." Modi also urged farmers "to return home to their families and let's start afresh". The move doesn't threaten the government but the backtracking could potentially dent Modi's image as a strong and decisive leader. The announcement comes ahead of key provincial polls where farmers are an influential voting bloc and the yearlong protests by hundreds of thousands of farmers could determine its outcome. The government had, so far, refused to budge from its position which protesting farmers claimed would ruin their livelihoods, making it the longest stand-off yet under Modi's rule since 2014. The government had insisted the new laws — The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act — would benefit the growers and refused to withdraw the legislation. The Supreme Court too had ordered temporary suspension of the laws, but the agitators had refused to compromise. Parliament passed the three farm laws in September last year. They had first come in June in the form of three separate ordinances before being approved by Parliament by a voice vote. While addressing the nation, Modi said, "Whatever I did, I did for farmers. What I'm doing is for the country. With your blessings, I never left out anything in my hard work. Today I assure you that I'll now work even harder, so that your dreams, and the nation's dreams can be realized." The prime minister's announcement repealing the controversial laws was welcomed by all including his party members and loyalists. The opposition Congress party called it a win for the farmers of the nation. Haryana cabinet minister Anil Vij was among the first to hail the decision. "All farmer organizations should express their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and immediately lift their dharna (sit-in) and go to their homes and start their regular work," he tweeted. — Agencies
