A journey back home for farmers
The Hindu Net DeskThe Hindu Net DeskDecember 11, 2021 12:31 IST
Emotions ran high as the farmers set off for their homes in different States, including Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, after a successful movement.
Farmers celebrate as they prepare to leave after a decision to withdraw farmers' movement was taken in the wake of the government accepting all their demands
On November 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a televised address to the nation, announced that the government would repeal the laws as it couldn’t convince a section of farmers on the merits of the new farm laws.
As this agitation winds to a largely successful end, leaders emphasised that the SKM itself must not be disbanded. “The farmers of the nation have united under this banner, and that unity is our strength.
The unions are set to meet again on January 15 in the capital to monitor and review whether the government has kept its promises to unconditionally withdraw cases filed against protestors, provide compensation for the kin of farmers who died at the protests and form a committee to ensure that all farmers can avail remunerative rates for their produce.
Amid protests from Opposition parties, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill without any discussion on the first day of the winter session on Monday.
The Centre’s formal proposal, which was signed by Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal despite the fact that farm leaders said most negotiations on the document were held with Home Ministry representatives, was received on Thursday morning.
President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the Bill that completes the process of repealing the three contentious farm laws. The Law Ministry, on December 1, notified The Farm Laws Repeal Law, 2021, which negates all the farm laws passed by Parliament last year.
In a major overnight concession, the Central and State Governments have agreed to withdraw almost half a lakh cases filed against protesting farmers with immediate effect.
With regard to the committee announced by the Prime Minister, the revised proposal, seen by The Hindu, says it will have a specific “mandate on how to ensure that all farmers get minimum support prices”. It also assured that there will not be any reduction in the amount of crops that the Government is procuring at MSP rates.
The song and dance had started the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the repeal of the three farm laws but the roar of “Jo Bole So Nihal... Sat Sri Akal (victory slogan in Punjabi)” was loudest on Thursday when a speaker announced from the main stage at the Singhu border that all their demands have been accepted and they will leave for their homes on Saturday.
Victory celebrations have been scheduled for Saturday, in respect for the cremation of CDS Gen. Bipin Rawat on Friday. At the Singhu site, a number of farmers had already begun packing up their temporary accommodations, although Uttar Pradesh leader Rakesh Tikait said it could take a while for all protestors to vacate the protest sites, especially in his Ghazipur stronghold.
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Farmers celebrate as they prepare to leave after a decision to withdraw farmers' movement was taken in the wake of the government accepting all their demands
On November 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a televised address to the nation, announced that the government would repeal the laws as it couldn’t convince a section of farmers on the merits of the new farm laws.
As this agitation winds to a largely successful end, leaders emphasised that the SKM itself must not be disbanded. “The farmers of the nation have united under this banner, and that unity is our strength.
The unions are set to meet again on January 15 in the capital to monitor and review whether the government has kept its promises to unconditionally withdraw cases filed against protestors, provide compensation for the kin of farmers who died at the protests and form a committee to ensure that all farmers can avail remunerative rates for their produce.
Amid protests from Opposition parties, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill without any discussion on the first day of the winter session on Monday.
The Centre’s formal proposal, which was signed by Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal despite the fact that farm leaders said most negotiations on the document were held with Home Ministry representatives, was received on Thursday morning.
President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the Bill that completes the process of repealing the three contentious farm laws. The Law Ministry, on December 1, notified The Farm Laws Repeal Law, 2021, which negates all the farm laws passed by Parliament last year.
In a major overnight concession, the Central and State Governments have agreed to withdraw almost half a lakh cases filed against protesting farmers with immediate effect.
With regard to the committee announced by the Prime Minister, the revised proposal, seen by The Hindu, says it will have a specific “mandate on how to ensure that all farmers get minimum support prices”. It also assured that there will not be any reduction in the amount of crops that the Government is procuring at MSP rates.
The song and dance had started the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the repeal of the three farm laws but the roar of “Jo Bole So Nihal... Sat Sri Akal (victory slogan in Punjabi)” was loudest on Thursday when a speaker announced from the main stage at the Singhu border that all their demands have been accepted and they will leave for their homes on Saturday.
Victory celebrations have been scheduled for Saturday, in respect for the cremation of CDS Gen. Bipin Rawat on Friday. At the Singhu site, a number of farmers had already begun packing up their temporary accommodations, although Uttar Pradesh leader Rakesh Tikait said it could take a while for all protestors to vacate the protest sites, especially in his Ghazipur stronghold.
Emotions ran high as the farmers set off for their homes in different States, including Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, after a successful movement.
More than a year after they arrived in large convoys of tractors, several protesting farmers on December 11 morning began returning to their home States, taking with them a victory to cherish and memories of a successful siege at Delhi's borders.
The farmers lifted blockades on highways at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders and took out a 'Victory March' to celebrate the repeal of three contentious farm laws and the Centre's written assurance to fulfil their other demands, including constituting a committee for legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
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