President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday gave his assent to the Bill cancelling the three farm laws. The parliament on Monday had approved the repeal of the three controversial farm laws in rushed voice votes in both Houses on the first day of the winter session.
The presidential assent to the Farm Laws Repeal Act, 2021 means that the three farm laws stand scrapped now.
Though the repeal bill was passed by voice vote within minutes of its introduction in both the Houses, opposition members continued their protest demanding a discussion on farmers’ issues, including legal sanctity to Minimum Support Price(MSP) of crops and compensation to families of farmers who died during the year-long agitation.
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The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 triggered widespread protest since November 2020.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on November 19 announced the decision to repeal the laws – the biggest policy rollback since he led the BJP to power in 2014.
The laws are being repealed just before assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, where it was feared that farmer protests may dent prospects of the BJP.
(With inputs from agencies)
