Indian farmers cheered and evacuated their protest spots around the capital New Delhi and returned home. This has put an end to the farmer’s protests in the country that have lasted for a year. The farmers are leaving now that the government has scrapped a number of proposed agricultural laws.
The new agricultural laws had already been passed by the Indian parliament last September, but have not yet been introduced. Last month, Indian Prime Minister Modi announced the three new laws withdraw.
The farmers did not leave the demonstration sites immediately after the announcement. They demanded, among other things, that the government maintain guaranteed prices for key crops and scrap criminal cases against protesters. On Thursday, the government set up a committee to consider those demands.
Six dead
Modi wanted to liberalize agriculture in India with the reforms, but farmers feared that they would have to compete with agricultural conglomerates, who can produce more cheaply. Also, as a result of the reforms, farmers would no longer receive the minimum support price for crops. In India, the government partly sets the prices of rice and vegetables.
The peasant protests were not always peaceful. Protesters hit come to blows with the police and two months ago in northern India six dead when a vehicle rammed into demonstrating farmers. The car is said to have been part of a convoy of a politician from the ruling party BJP. Party officials say it was an accident.
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