The Union Cabinet has cleared a bill to repeal the 3 Farm Laws, and the bill is listed for introduction in the Winter Session of Parliament.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced on November 19 that the three bills, which led to year-long protests by farmers, would be repealed in the winter session of Parliament.
Farmers have been protesting at the borders of Delhi for almost a year now demanding repeal of the laws, along with other demands which include scrapping the electricity bill, and guarantee of Minimum Support Price(MSP).
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body under which over 400 farmer groups have come together to protest against the laws, has said the protests will continue, and has also written a letter to the PM listing their demands and urging him to talk to them.
Farmers have also declared they will march to Parliament on November 29, on the first day of the Winter Session. The Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021 will repeal the three Farm Acts passed earlier – Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
While there was much rejoicing at PM Modi’s announcement of taking back the bills, the government is heavily criticized for taking so long to revoke the bills which caused the death of approximately 700 farmers as they braved the freezing sub-zero winters, scorching sun, with bare essentials, many were attacked, barricaded and even some mowed down, and beaten, imprisonment and also mentally harassed.