Farm Laws’ Repeal: Opposition Parties Hail Farmers for Making ‘Arrogant’ Modi Govt ‘Bend’

New Delhi: Opposition parties on Friday welcomed the Centre’s decision to repeal the three Central farm laws in the upcoming Winter session of Parliament and hailed the farmers’ movement for making the “arrogant” Narendra Modi government “bow” after a year-long agitation.

In Maharashtra, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government’s former ally Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which are part of the government with Congress, said the government had to finally bow down before the agitating farmers.

On Friday, addressing the nation on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti, Modi announced that the government has decided to repeal the three farm laws, which were at the Centre of protests by farmers for the past year, and appealed to the protesting farmers to return home.

Reacting to the development, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said: "For the first time the 'mann ki baat' of people has come out PM Modi's mouth. BJP leaders were openly calling these farmers Khalistanis and Pakistanis, but the Union government had to bend before the farmers' pressure."

Nawab Malik, chief spokesperson of NCP, said in a tweet, "Jhukati hai duniya, jhukane wala chahiye. We salute all the farmers, many of them gave their life. The three farm laws have been withdrawn."

In Nagpur, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said the BJP-led Central government decided to withdraw three farm laws fearing backlash in upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, and hailed the protesting farmers, saying their year-long struggle against the legislations would not be forgotten.       

He also slammed the Centre for introducing the three farm Bills and getting them passed "in haste" without any discussion and without taking state governments into confidence.      

"These Bills were opposed by all the opposition parties in Parliament and its proceedings were stalled and walkouts were staged. However, the people in power insisted that they would continue with the Bills and they were passed in haste," he said. 

Many farmers had been protesting and camping at Delhi's borders since November 2020 with a demand that 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 be rolled back and a new law made to guarantee MSP for crops. PTI ND

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said country's 'annadatas' have made "arrogance bow its head" through 'satyagraha', and described the Centre's decision to repeal the farm laws as a "victory against injustice".

"Country's 'annadatas' (food providers) have made arrogance bow its head through satyagraha," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

"Congratulations on this victory against injustice!" the former Congress chief said.

"'Jai Hind, Jai Hind ka Kisan'," he added.

Sitaram Yechury,  general secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist), said “Parliament while repealing the black farm laws must enact legal entitlement to sell at MSP.”

 In an string of tweets, Yechury, while hailing the farmers for their struggle, said “the quest for justice for those targeted by the government and its agencies through false cases will continue. The PM must apologise for the hardship and trouble caused by his dictatorial step of farm laws to benefit his crony business partners.”

In Jaipur, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the announcement of repealing the three farm laws is a victory of democracy and "defeat" of the arrogance of the Centre.

He also said that it is a victory of the patience of farmers who kept agitating for the last one year. 

"... The country can never forget that hundreds of farmers have lost their lives due to the short-sightedness and pride of the Modi government," Gehlot tweeted, adding "I bow to all the farmers who sacrificed their lives in the farmers' movement. This is the victory of their sacrifice."

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee congratulated farmers for their relentless fight against three farm laws and said they were not fazed by the "cruelty" of the BJP.

"My heartfelt congratulations to every single farmer who fought relentlessly and were not fazed by the cruelty with which @BJP4India treated you. This is YOUR VICTORY!  My deepest condolences to everyone who lost their loved ones in this fight. #FarmLaws," Banerjee tweeted.

In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M K Stalin “wholeheartedly” welcomed the decision and said: “History teaches us that people's wishes shall prevail in a democracy. I congratulate all the farmers & bow down to their determination for having achieved this through Gandhian means.”

 In Punjab, estranged BJP ally, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal also welcomed the decision, saying: “Historic victory of farmers on Gurupurab, defining moment in history.”

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also welcomed the government's announcement to repeal the contentious farm laws, saying the "sacrifice" of farmers who died protesting against them will remain immortal.

"Such a happy news has been received on Prakash Diwas. The three laws scrapped. More than 700 farmers martyred. Their sacrifice will remain immortal. The coming generations will remember how the farmers of the country saved farming and the farmers by risking their own lives. My tribute to farmers of my country," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.

 Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Baghel tweeted in Hindi: “The Gandhian movement has once again shown its strength. Congratulations to the farmers of the country for pressuring the Central government to withdraw the three black laws. This is the victory of not only farmers, but also of democracy against injustice."

Telangana Rashtra Samithi Working President KT Rama Rao said: "The power of people is always greater than the people in power."

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of repealing the three farm laws was "a victory of the longest peaceful struggle" of farmers.

Channi said in a tweet, "Decision to repeal 3 black farm laws is victory of longest peaceful people's struggle that was started by farmers in Punjab. My salute to the Annadata."  

Congratulating the farmers, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted: "The year-long farmers' protest has finally triumphed. Indian farmers have scripted one of the brightest chapters in the history of class struggles. Salutes to the martyrs, farmers and organisations who fought with unmatched resoluteness and undying spirit. #Farmlaws

Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) chief Mayawati also congratulated farmers but termed the Central government's move a "very late one".

The BSP supremo also demanded framing a law to assure support price for farmers' produce and financial compensation for the kin of farmers who lost their lives during the protest against the three contentious laws.

"The sacrifices of the farmers have paid off. The government in the end withdrew the three controversial laws though it is too late," Mayawati told reporters.

"The demand for a national law to assure support price for farmers' produce is still pending. The BSP demands that it should be introduced in the Winter Session of Parliament. The government should accept this demand," she said.

In Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah said anyone who believes the government repealed the farm laws out of the goodness of its heart was completely mistaken.

 “…This government only responds to cold hard numbers - bypoll setback = fuel price reduction. Poor internal polls numbers for Western UP & Punjab = #Farmlawsrepealed,” Abdullah wrote on Twitter.

 Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement and said his party BJD would continue to stand with the farmers.

"Welcome Hon'ble PM @narendramodi ji's (Narendra Modi) decision to repeal all 3 #FarmLwas, in the best interest of the country and its farmers. Your farms and families have been waiting for long and they will be happy to welcome you back. @bjd_odisha continues to stand with the farmers," he tweeted.

Congratulatory Messages

The All India Democratic Women’s Association, while congratulating the kisan movement and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha in general, also congratulated the thousands of women farmers who courageously fought shoulder to shoulder in this historic struggle.

“We support their resolve not to forget the brutal attacks on their comrades at Lakhimpur Kheri and elsewhere on which the PM is completely silent. We think they are right in pointing out that the PM's statement is only a partial concession and omits their demands for MSP and the withdrawal of the Electricity Act.,” AIDWA said in a statement.

Amal Halder, Convenor of All India Kisan Sangharsh Cooridnation Committee (AIKSCC) in West Bengal told NewsClick in Kolkata that this is the victory of farmers who participated in the struggle throughout the country  and observed innumerable bandhs, rail rokos and all forms of movement to deter the government from going ahead with the three draconian farm laws. 

West Bengal CPI(M) state secretary, Suryakanta Mishra, said on Twitter:  “We convey our congratulations  to the SKM , AIKSCC and all the participants  and supporters of the historic kisan movement  for their magnificent victory . We demand that CM, WB, must declare that anti farmer provisions  in the amended  WB state Act shall be repealed.”

The Student Federation of India, West Bengal, said it would take out a “victory rally” in Kolkata, saluting the farmers.

Anadi Sahu, Bengal CITU secretary, Left trade unions will also take part in the victory rallies across state.

Bengal Congress leader Abdul Mannan said that PM Modi  had to “give in”  to people’s demand  and criticised him for his government’s dealing with the farmers’ movement.

In a statement, CITU said the Modi government’s decision to repeal the three ‘black’ farm laws sends a “clear message to the Govt that the wealth-producing class, the workers and peasants shall never accept lying down the anti-people policies of ruling dispensation.” 

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions also noted the PM’s silence on the issue of withdrawal of proposed Electricity Amendment Bill and the  statutory enactment on Minimum Support Price at the rate of C2+50% for all crops with guaranteed procurement, which are also the major demands of the ongoing farmers’ struggle.

“These issues are no less important and must be conceded to,” it said, while congratulating the struggling farmers for their “determined united struggle forcing such a retreat by the government.”

The CITU said that whatever decisions the SKM will take on the future course of their struggle, the trade union movement will continue with active support which is being extended since the beginning of this historic struggle.

In Bihar, the opposition Mahagathbandhan, including the Left parties, slammed the Centre’s delay in withdrawing the farm laws, claiming that the ruling BJP was “scared of defeat” in the upcoming Assembly polls given the year-long protest against farm laws.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad said that Modi was forced to withdraw farm laws as he and his party were scared of likely defeat in the upcoming Assembly polls, adding that the withdrawal would not impact the poll outcomes as people know of why Modi took this decision.

Yadav congratulated farmers on the success of the world's longest, peaceful and democratic farmers' Satyagraha.

CPIM) Bihar  state secretary Awadesh Kumar said that the repeal of the three laws was a victory of farmers' struggle and demanded that the government give MSP legal rights to farmers. The CPI also welcomed the withdrawal of farm laws.

Saluting the farmers' movement, CPI(ML)  general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said the Modi regime had been pushed back by the heroic struggle and sacrifices of the farmers to repeal the anti-farmer farm laws.

"Now it's for workers and citizens to force the government to roll back CAA, labour codes and asset sale," he added.

"It is a big victory. The movement will continue till the anti-farmer three laws are officially repealed in the upcoming Parliament session, MSP guarantee law is passed, and fabricated cases filed against leaders and members of various farmers' unions are withdrawn," Rajaram Singh, general secretary, All India Kisan Mahasabha said.