Indian PM announce repeal of three farm laws

(News 1st); Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the withdrawal of three controversial farm laws after almost a year-long nationwide protests by a large section of the country’s farmer community. In a 20-minute address to the nation, PM Modi said “We have decided to repeal all three farm laws. We will start the constitutional process to repeal all the three laws in the parliament session that starts at the end of this month,” Many of the protesters have camped along the borders of Delhi for the past year. Around 600 such farmers have died till now. The agitation took a particularly violent turn in Delhi on Jan. 26 this year when India celebrated its Republic Day. The protesters believe the new laws are designed to help large corporations like Reliance Industries or the Adani Group, while eliminating the safeguards for farmers. The new laws would have allowed market forces to venture freely into the farm sector in India, which is currently heavily regulated by the government.