Modi calls for new beginnings, appeals to protesting farmers to return home
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced a rollback of the three agri laws at the heart of yearlong protests by farmers, a surprise U-turn that was widely welcomed but did not translate to an immediate end to the agitation with farmer leaders pressing for an MSP guarantee and a formal notification.
Addressing the nation on the morning of Guru Nanak Jayanti, Modi called for new beginnings and appealed to farmers who had set up camp at entry points into the national capital since November 28 last year to return home.
The Prime Minister maintained the laws were for their benefit and also apologised to people of the country, adding that the government could not convince a section of farmers despite its clear heart and clean conscience.
“There may have been some shortcoming in our efforts due to which we could not explain the truth, as clear as the light of the diya, to some of our farmer brothers,” Modi said, referring to the protests, spearheaded by farmers from Punjab and also Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, which left about 700 dead.
With farmers a major political force across lines of region and religion, the withdrawal of the contentious laws was welcomed by most parties.
In his speech, the Prime Minister said the constitutional formalities to revoke the laws will be done during the winter session of Parliament beginning November 29, just a day before the one-year anniversary of the protest that could well continue.
Modi noted that it is the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev and no occasion to blame anyone.
He requested all his farmer friends to return home to their fields and families and make a new beginning on this auspicious occasion, a day when gurudwaras across the country are lit up to celebrate the festival.
“… let us move forward afresh,” Modi said, adding that the goal of the three farm laws was to empower farmers, especially small farmers.
The three farm bills at the centre of emotive protests – and debate – are the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
The Supreme Court had put the laws in abeyance.
The government will have to move a bill in Parliament to repeal the three agri laws, Constitution and legal experts have said.
According to Supreme Court-appointed farm panel member Anil Ghanwat, the move to repeal the laws is a regressive step.
“Our panel had submitted several corrections and solutions over the three farm laws, but instead of using it to solve the impasse, Modi and BJP chose to backtrack. They just want to win elections and nothing else,” the president of the Shetkari Sanghatna told PTI.
A host of political leaders and others, including showbiz celebs, spoke on the matter.
The Prime Minister’s decision to revoke the laws protests marks the second time since coming to power in 2014 that his government has taken a decision of such magnitude in the face of popular protests.
In 2015, it had allowed the land ordinance to lapse as Opposition parties mounted a strong protest.