New Delhi (TIP): The Indian government on Friday, November 19, took back its three contentious farm laws. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation announced this. Farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been protesting at the Delhi borders against these laws for more than a year.

The PM talked about farmers’ issues and what his government had done to address them. He said the government had brought the three farm laws to improve the lot of farmers. He said it had been the demand of farmers for long and they brought these laws after delibrations in Parliament and these were welcomed in many quarters.

Modi said they brought these laws with utmost sincerity but could not make a section of the farmers see their benefits. Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement to withdraw the three contentious farm bills as a beginning, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait reiterated that the protesting farmers will return to their homes only after the decision is duly passed by the Parliament.

Speaking to HT over the phone Tikait said that multiple issues are pending, including the legalisation of Minimum Support Price, which have not been addressed by the PM. He reiterated that “Khoonta tabhi ukharenge jab kaam pakka ho Javega (will return only when the deed is done)“. He made no bones in admitting that farmers don’t trust such announcements until it is duly passed by the Parliament.

“Sanyukt Kisan Morcha meeting will be convened today to discuss and review the development and further course of action will be decided accordingly, said Tikait who showed reluctance to welcome the announcement and said,“ we can say its a beginning.”

He said that over 600 farmers had given their sacrifice to strengthen and carry forward the movement and we need to honour their sacrifice while taking any decision.

What they say

Haven’t been able to convince farmers. Only a section of them was opposing the laws, but we kept trying to educate, inform them.

We tried our best to explain to farmers. We were even ready to modify the laws, suspend them too. The matter reached the Supreme Court as well.

We haven’t been able to explain to our farmers. This is not a time to blame anyone. I want to tell you that we have taken the farm laws back. We are repealing the farm laws.

— Narendra Modi

Great news! Thankful to PM @narendramodi ji for acceding to the demands of every punjabi & repealing the 3 black laws on the pious occasion of #GuruNanakJayanti. I am sure the central govt will continue to work in tandem for the development of Kisani! #NoFarmers_NoFood

@AmitShah. — Capt Amarinder Singh

Repealing of black laws a step in the right direction …. Satyagrah of Kisan morcha gets historic success…. You’re sacrifice has paid dividends…. Revival of farming in Punjab through a road map should be the top priority for the Pb govt ….accolades. — Navjot Sidhu

Huge Victory of Farmers’ Movement! ?? Modi Govt has withdrawn the 3 black #FarmLaws fearing loss in the upcoming elections. PM Modi should apologise to the families of all those farmers who’ve lost their lives in the struggle for justice! — AAP

Arrogance has succumbed to the satyagrah of the nation’s providers. Congratulating protesting farmers on “victory against injustice”, the former Congress president wrote in Hindi on Twitter, “Jai Hind. Jai Hind ka kisan!” — Rahul Gandhi

The “martyrdom” of “over 700 farmers” who died during the protests will always be remembered. “The coming generations will remember how the farmers of my country risked their lives to protect farmers and farming. — Arvind Kejriwal