India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Friday that his government will repeal the country's farming laws that were introduced in September 2020.
Why it matters: The laws to deregulate agriculture sparked months of massive protests, led by thousands of farmers who said the legislation threatened their businesses and livelihoods.
- The significant backflip by Modi's government coincided with the Sikh's Guru Purab festival and ahead of crucial elections in states including Punjab, where the majority religion is Sikhism.
- The majority of demonstrators are Sikh farmers from Punjab, AP notes.
Details: Modi said during a televised address that his government had decided to withdraw all three of the controversial agricultural laws, per Reuters.
- "In the parliament session starting later this month, we will complete the constitutional process to repeal these three agricultural laws," he said.
