The Indian government has offered to suspend the implementation of the three farm laws amidst the ongoing farmer’s strike at a meeting on Wednesday. This protest is the biggest farmer’s protest in years which is now in the hopes of being called off. The protest was ongoing for the past five months with the aim of the cancellation of the three farm laws namely- Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.
The reform would allow private buyers to deal directly with farmers. This is highly opposed by the farmers since this would force them to live at the mercy of the big retailers and food processors and make the traditional wholesale markets irrelevant. The protest has been going on major highways outside the capital, New Delhi for more than two months.
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar stated that the government was deciding to suspend the laws for up to 18 months (about 1 and a half years) during which the farmers and the government could come together to provide solutions to satisfy both sides. In the past five months of the protest, the bilateral talks between the two have failed to bring about any desirable results to solve the deadlock. This has become one of the most significant challenges for the Modi administration after the Delhi riots, last year. The government has seen protests every year ever since it was reelected in 2019.
The next round of bilateral talks is due to take place soon, which would decide whether the farmers will accept the temporary suspension and call off the protests. Even though the government is sympathetic to the farmers and is trying to put an end to the unrest, they have not been kind to the peaceful protest in the country’s capital. The farmers have planned a tractor rally through New Delhi on 26 January, India’s Republic Day which the Supreme Court on Wednesday declined a government petition to ban.
