Farm Laws: Farmers Celebrate; Congress to Observe 'Kisan Vijay Diwas'
Catch all the live updates on the aftermath of PM Modi's announcement of the Centre repealing the farm laws here.
Farmers celebrate after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the repealing of the three Central farm laws, at Singhu Border in New Delhi, Friday, 19 November.
(Photo: Somya Lakhani/The Quint)
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Friday, 19 November, addressed the nation on the occasion of Gurpurab and announced that the Union government has decided to repeal the three contentious farm laws.
The three laws were for the benefit of the farmers but the government could not convince a section of the farmers despite the government's best efforts, Modi said.
In the coming Parliament session, the government will take constitutional measures to repeal these farm laws, Modi further said, and asked protesting farmers to call off their agitation and return to their homes.
Since PM Modi's announcement, reactions have been flowing in from politicians, congratulating the farmers on their successful agitation against the laws.
Thousands of farmers have been protesting the government’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
Even after several rounds of talks between the Centre and the farmers, the conflict remained and farmers continued protesting for almost a year
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Farmers Begin Celebrations
Soon after the PM Modi's announcement, farmers began celebrating at Ghazipur border with 'Kisan Zindabad' slogans, visuals shared by news agency ANI showed.
Farmers Defeated Arrogance With Their Satyagraha: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was among the several leaders who tweeted minutes after Modi announced that the three farm laws were being rolled back.
"The country's farmers have defeated arrogance with their satyagraha. Jai Hind, Jai Hind farmers," Gandhi tweeted, along with an old tweet from January this year where he said, "Mark my words, the government will have to take back the anti-farm laws."
Agitation Will Not Stop Yet, Says Rakesh Tikait
Despite the announcement, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on Friday said that the agitation will not be withdrawn immediately, adding that the farmers will wait for the day when the laws are repealed in Parliament.
"Along with MSP, the government should also discuss other issues of farmers," Tikait wrote in a tweet.
Success of the Farmers' Protest: Manoj Jha on Impending Repeal of Farm Laws
Victory of the Farmers: Tejashwi Yadav
'Victory for Peasants, Patriots of India': AIKMS
Soon after PM Modi's announcement, reactions began flowing in from farmer union.
In a statement, All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS) congratulated the farmers for this "truly historic movement" which led PM Modi to announce that the three farm laws will be withdrawn.
"It is a victory for the peasants and the patriotic people of India," it said.
However, the statement added that the farmers body is dismayed that the government has made no announcement on the other issues, such as legal guarantee for procurement and MSP etc.
SKM Welcomes Decision, But Says Important Demands Still Pending
Umbrella farmers body Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Friday also welcomed decision, but said it will wait for the announcement to take effect through due parliamentary procedures.
If this happens, it will be a historic victory of the year-long farmers' struggle in India, the statement read.
""However, nearly 700 farmers have been martyred in this struggle. The central government's obstinacy is responsible for these avoidable deaths, including the murders at Lakhimpur Kheri," SKM said in their statement.
"SKM also reminds the Prime Minister that the agitation of farmers is not just for the repeal of the three black laws, but also for a statutory guarantee of remunerative prices for all agricultural produce and for all farmers. This important demand of farmers is still pending. So also is the withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill. SKM will take note of all developments, hold its meeting soon and announce further decisions," the statement went on to say.
Haryana Dy CM Chautala Welcomes Decision to Repeal Farm Laws
Haryana Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala on Friday welcomed the Centre's decision to repeal the farm laws.
"This is a commendable step for the reinstatement of peace and harmony in society," Chautala said, appealing to farmer bodies to end their protest.
"We'll continue to make effort for farmers' welfare," the deputy chief minister added.
Farmers' Sacrifice Paid Off: BSP Chief Mayawati
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Friday said that the farmers' sacrifice has paid off.
"The decision to repeal the three farm laws should have been taken much before. Still, the farmers' demand for a law on MSP is pending. BSP demands that in the upcoming Parliament session the Centre should bring a law in this regard," Mayawati said.
Delhi CM Kejriwal Congratulates Farmers
Reacting to the development, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal extended his congratulations to the farmers in the country.
"Their agitation yielded results. Had this been done sooner lives of 700 farmers could've been saved. Still, this is big. Perhaps for the first time in India's history, the government is taking back three laws due to an agitation," CM Kejriwal told news agency ANI.
He also took to Twitter to state the same.
Amarinder Singh Thanks PM Modi for Repealing "Black Laws"
Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday also welcomed the Centre’s decision to withdraw the three contentious farm laws.
He thanked PM Modi "for acceding to the demands of every Punjabi and repealing the three black laws" on Gurpurab.
He also said that he was sure that the Centre would continue to work in tandem for the development of farmers.
Priyanka Gandhi Hits Out at Centre, Says Decision Taken for Elections
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Friday hit out at PM Modi for “ignoring” the protests against the farm laws for months and deciding to repeal them after “seeing defeat” in the elections.
In a series of tweets, Gandhi claimed that PM Modi didn’t care either about the “martyrdom of over 600 farmers” or the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. She alleged that BJP leaders insulted farmers by calling them “terrorists, traitors, goons, miscreants”, adding that it is difficult to trust PM Modi's “changed attitude.”
“Now that you have started seeing the defeat in the elections, you suddenly started to understand the truth of this country - that this country has been made by the farmers, this country belongs to the farmers, the farmer is the true caretaker of this country and no government can rule the country by crushing the interest of the farmers,” she tweeted.
PM Modi's Announcement a Welcome, Statesmanlike Move: Amit Shah
Decision Taken in Light of Elections: Farmers at Ghazipur
Speaking to The Quint, farmers at Ghazipur border said that the timing of the announcement seemed suspect and it could be attributed to the upcoming Uttar Pradesh and Punjab elections.
Farmers also said that till a bill was passed in Parliament taking back the laws, farmers would not be fully satisfied.
A farmer also pointed out that PM Modi had not mentioned the farmers who had lost their lives in the year-long protests, nor the Lakhimpur Kheri incident which had left four farmers dead.
Celebrations Underway at Singhu Border
Big Win After a Long Year, Says Yogendra Yadav
Farmers Celebrate at Ghazipur Protest Site
Nitish Kumar Reacts to Centre's Decision to Roll Back Laws
Celebrations Underway at Singhu Border
Can Never Thank Farmers & Their Families Enough: Harsimrat Kaur Badal
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who had resigned as Union Minister over the farm laws, on Friday said that this day will go down in history.
"Today indeed is a day to remember those 800 farmers who laid down their lives to get these bills repealed. We can never forget them. We can never thank them and their families enough," she said, according to news agency ANI.
Sanjay Raut Welcomes Rollback, Alleges Decision Taken Over UP, Punjab Polls
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut welcomed the decision but alleged that the Centre decided to withdraw the laws over fear of being defeated in the Punjab and Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.
"Today the government has to withdraw all three agricultural laws. They have been withdrawn because of politics. Still, I welcome the decision. However, these laws have been withdrawn due to the fear of defeat in the elections of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. There was pressure on the government and in the end, the farmers have won," Raut said, according to ANI.
Farmers React to Modi's Decision: 'How Can We Celebrate? We Have Lost Too Many Lives'
The protesting farmers at the Singhu border protest site, the fountainhead of the farmers' agitation, aren't celebrating in full measure. Their relief at the announcement of the repeal is dampened by their loss - the farmers say that more than half a thousand of their fellow protesters have lost their lives during this long agitation of eleven and a half months.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath Welcomes PM Modi's Decision
Glad Farm Laws Are Being Repealed: British MP
British MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi on Friday said he was glad the controversial farm laws were being repealed.
Congress to Observe 'Kisan Vijay Diwas' on Saturday
Congress on Friday said it will observe 'Kisan Vijay Diwas' across the country on Saturday "in recognition of consistent and spirited fight of the farmers against the flawed decisions".
It has also asked state units to organise Kisan Vijay rallies/Kisan Vijay sabhas