After the government agreed to their demands, Indian farmers protesting against controversial farm laws decided to end their year-long strike and return home on Thursday.
The decision to call an end to the long-running protest came after the Indian government agreed to all of the protesting farmers‘ demands, including the withdrawal of all protest-related cases.
Compensation was also provided to the families of farmers who died during protests against the contentious farm laws.
Protesting farmers have received a letter from the Indian government promising to form a committee on minimum support price (MSP) for farm produce and to withdraw cases against them immediately.
According to media reports, farmers have begun dismantling the makeshift tents and accommodations on the outskirts of the capital, New Delhi.
Farmers Leader Gurnam Singh Charuni, on the other hand, stated that they would formally begin vacating the site on Saturday.
“We have decided to put our agitation on hold.” On January 15, we will hold a review meeting.
“If the government fails to keep its promises, we may resume our agitation.”
The decision to call an end to the protests came less than two weeks after India’s parliament repealed three farm laws passed in September of last year.
According to the farmers’ organization, over 700 farmers died during the protests that began in November last year after farmers occupied the national capital’s borders.
The three contentious laws were passed by Modi’s government in September 2020, with the stated goal of “modernizing” the South Asian country’s agriculture sector.
Farmers, on the other hand, were concerned that the new laws would weaken their position and make them dependent on corporations.
Earlier, in a surprise address to the nation, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the federal government was repealing the laws.
Farmers, however, did not immediately end their protests and demanded that the government accept all of their demands.