Kathmandu, November 19. Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced that the Central government will roll back three controversial farm laws that were adopted in September 2020.

While speaking at a national address, PM Modi said, “Apologising to the nation … we have decided to repeal the three farm laws.”

Here are the three farm laws introduced by the Modi government:

• The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act
• The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act
• The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act. 

Despite the government’s claims that these farm laws will cut out middlemen and help farmers make more money, farmers who contribute 15% of the country’s GDP argued that the laws will result in the scrapping of the minimum support price (MSP) – the price at which the government purchases farm produce – and leave farmers at the mercy of corporate dealers. 

Agitated by the new laws passed, more than a million farmers have regularly participated in the mass protests “Samyukt Kisan Morcha” since November last year. According to a report by The Indian Express, more than 750 farmers died due to hypothermia, suicide, and other causes that occurred during the one-year-long protest.

Earlier in January, the Supreme Court of India suspended the controversial laws and said that ‘the government lagged behind on consulting with farmers when passing the laws.’ The court also ordered the formation of a four Agri experts panel to listen to the farmers and make recommendations.