India: India's Modi backs down on farm reforms in surprise victory for protesters

NEW DELHI, 20 November 2021, (TON): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “he would repeal controversial farm laws that farmers have protested for more than a year, a significant climbdown for the combative leader.”

The sudden concession on the three laws comes ahead of elections early next year in Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, and two other northern states with large rural populations.

Modi said in an address to the nation "today I have come to tell you, the whole country, that we have decided to withdraw all three agricultural laws.”

"In the parliament session starting later this month, we will complete the constitutional process to repeal these three agricultural laws."

The legislation, introduced in September last year, was aimed at deregulating the sector, allowing farmers to sell produce to buyers beyond government-regulated wholesale markets, where growers are assured of a minimum price.

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