Farm laws repeal: PM Modi says 'apologising to nation'; celebrations at Delhi borders

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said the Centre's decision to repeal three contentious farm laws is a welcome step and expressed hope that the Union government "course corrects" and "reverses the illegal changes" made in Jammu and Kashmir since August 2019.

What about the families of the 700-750 farmers who died during agitation against these black laws? They've withdrawn the laws now that Assembly elections are around the corner. They've lost on this front & they'll face defeat there (in elections) too: RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav

SP president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday gave credit to farmers' agitation for the Centre’s decision to repeal the three farm laws in the upcoming parliamentary session but warned the government against enacting any similar law after the elections.

Today, the sacrifices of more than 700 farmer families, whose members laid down their lives in this struggle for justice, have paid off. Today, truth, justice, & non-violence have won: Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi

Senior Madhya Pradesh Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh on Friday welcomed the Centre's decision to repeal the three contentious farm laws, terming it a victory of farmers and democracy, and said it would have been better if the rollback was carried out earlier as it would have saved the lives of several protesters.

As a Union Agriculture Minister for 10 years, I had made this commitment on farm issue which is a state subject, that without taking all stakeholders into confidence, it was not right to bring in any new measure related to farm laws. I myself had sought advice from all state agriculture ministers but this govt without discussion implemented the three farm laws

Today indeed is a day that will go down in history. Today indeed is a day to remember those 800 farmers who laid down their lives to get these bills repealed. We can never forget them. We can never thank them & their families enough: Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday welcomed the repeal of the three farm laws and expressed regret farmers could not be convinced despite government’s best efforts. 

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra on Friday welcomed the Centre's decision to repeal three controversial farm laws, but said the ruling BJP cannot be trusted till it actually withdraws these legislations in the upcoming session of Parliament.

“All farmers' organizations should express their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his announcement to withdraw all three agriculture laws on the occasion of Guru Nanak Dev's Parkash Utsav. They should immediately end their dharnas, return home and carry out their regular work,” Vij tweeted in Hindi.

The Left parties on Friday said that the governments decision to repeal the three contentious farm laws was a victory of the people’s struggle and indicated that this was just the beginning of the protests against the alleged anti-people policies of this government.

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

The CPI(M) on Friday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise for the hardship and trouble caused by his "dictatorial step" of enacting the three farm laws.

"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," CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury in a tweet.

Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to repeal the three contentious farm laws as 'freedom for farmers', former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to each of the farmers who 'martyred' during the agitation.

In a series of tweets, the stalwart Congress leader hailed those who staged took part in the agitation and compelled the Centre to withdraw the 'anti-farmer laws'.

"This day will be written in golden letters in India's history like Independence Day, Republic Day. It's the victory of democracy, not just farmers'. Govt made all efforts to disrupt anti-farm laws protest, called them Khalistani, terrorists, but farmers' didn't give up," Delhi CM in a media address.

"Farmers proved that the Centre eventually will have to listen to the people. Water cannons, lathis dried up and nails melted against farmer's determination. Govt made all efforts to disrupt the protest but farmers' didn't give up & fought well," Arvind Kejriwal added.

"It's farmers' victory, who have been protesting against farm laws for so many days; over 700 died. Seems like Centre is guilty... But who'll take responsibility for the hardships that farmers had to go through? We will raise these issues in Parliament, Congress' Mallikarjun Kharge told ANI.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday 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. 

Hailing the Centre's announcement to repeal farm laws as a victory of farmers, SAD supremo Parkash Singh Badal on Friday said no government should enact such "insensitive and cruel laws" again. 

"A defining moment in history and a historic victory of farmers on Gurupurab," Badal said in a statement.

Talking about the laws, Badal said, "It was for the first time in the history of democratic governments that brazen and cruel laws were made without even taking the stakeholders on board.'

"No govt should ever do such an insensitive and cruel thing again," he asserted.   

Describing "700 farmers who died during the protest as martyrs", Badal said, "The loss of these brave soldiers and the disgraceful and entirely avoidable events like the one at Lakhimpur will always remain a dark blot on the face of this  government."

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday congratulated farmers for "pressuring" the Centre to withdraw the three contentious farm laws, and described the government's announcement as a victory not only of farmers, but also of democracy over injustice.

"In the early 1980’s when the Sikh community had grievances, they were met with the full might of the Indian state under the personal supervision of Mrs. Indira Gandhi. Without proper planning, the Golden Temple became a war zone. In contrast, PM Modi withdrew the farm bills on the Parkash Purab of Guru Nanak Dev Ji," Amit Malviya said.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of 40 farm unions, on Friday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement to repeal the three farm laws. 

"Samyukt Kisan Morcha welcomes this decision and will wait for the announcement to take effect through due parliamentary procedures," the SKM said in a statement.

"The agitation of farmers is not just against the repeal of the three black laws, but also for a statutory guarantee to remunerative prices for all agricultural produce and for all farmers. This important demand of farmers is still pending," it said.

Haryana cabinet minister Anil Vij was among the first to hail the decision.

The Centre on Friday withdrew the three controversial farm laws with Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself announcing this in a Televised address.  P. Chidambaram said, "PM's announcement on the withdrawal of the three farm laws is not inspired by a change of policy or a change of heart. It is impelled by fear of elections!"

"What cannot be achieved by democratic protests can be achieved by the fear of impending elections! Anyway, it is a great victory for the farmers and for the Congress party which was unwavering in its opposition to the farm laws," he added.

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Friday said the decision to repeal the three farm laws should be seen as a gift from the prime minister to protesting farmer.

Welcoming the move, Chautala, who is the leader of the JJP, a BJP ally, told PTI, "Repeal of farm laws should be seen as a gift from Prime Minister Modi to protesting farmers on Gurupurab."

"I appeal to all protesting farmers to return to their homes and celebrate Gurupurab with their families," he said.

Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his announcement that the government has decided to repeal the Centre's three farm laws.

The Bharatiyan Kisan Union's (BKU) Ugrahan faction on Friday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement to repeal the three contentious farm laws.

"It is a good move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Gurupurab," Joginder Singh Ugrahan, the leader of BKU's Ugrahan faction, told PTI.

On the prime minister's appeal to protesting farmers to return to their homes, Ugrahan said, "Farmers' unions will sit together and decide the future course of action."