Farmers shout slogans to celebrate after Modi announced to repeal agricultural reform laws.

In a major reversal, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Friday that he would repeal the controversial agriculture laws that sparked yearlong protests from tens of thousands of farmers and posed a significant challenge to his administration.

Farmers, who form one of India’s most influential voting blocs, have camped out on the outskirts of the capital since November of last year to demand the withdrawal of the laws, which they feared would dramatically reduce their incomes.

Modi’s surprise decision, in a televised national address, came ahead of elections early next year in key states like Uttar Pradesh and Punjab that are significant agricultural producers and where his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is eager to shore up its support.

Experts said it was too early to say if it would work. The prime minister urged the protesters to return home, but the farmers have said they will stay put until the laws are gone — a process that will begin in December when parliament sits for its winter session. “While apologising to the nation, I want to say with a sincere and pure heart that maybe something was lacking in our efforts that we could not explain the truth to some of our farmer brothers,” Modi said during the address. He added: “Let us make a fresh start.”

Opposition leaders, who earlier called the laws exploitative and supported the protests, congratulated the farmers. “The country’s farmers, through their resistance, made arrogance bow its head,” tweeted Rahul Gandhi from India’s main opposition Congress party.

“Congratulations on the victory against injustice!” The move represented a rare climbdown for the 71-year-old leader, who has stood firm in the face of fierce criticism over other steps his government took, such as abruptly banning high-denomination currency notes and revoking Kashmir’s semiautonomous powers.

He also backed a citizenship law that excludes Muslim immigrants, even in the face of sometimes violent protests. But farmers are a particularly influential voting bloc in India — both for their sheer numbers but also because and they are often romanticised as the heart and soul of the nation. They are especially important to Modi’s base and make up substantial portions of the population in some states his party rules.

 Farmers distribute sweets to celebrate after Modi announced to repeal agricultural reform laws.

Modi’s party was also criticised for refusing to extend debate on the legislation — renewing accusations that it has too often used its majority to ram through laws without enough consultation.

Protests against the laws escalated in November last year, when farmers hunkered down on the outskirts of New Delhi, where they have camped out since, including through a harsh winter and a coronavirus surge that devastated India earlier this year.

Dozens of farmers also died by suicide or because of bad weather or COVID-19 during the demonstrations that have drawn international support from rights campaigners and celebrities, including climate activist Greta Thunberg and superstar Rihanna. “At last, all of our hard work paid off. ... I salute the farmer brothers who were martyred in this battle,” said Rakesh Tikait, a prominent farmers’ leader.

At Ghazipur, one of the demonstration sites on the outskirts of New Delhi, celebrations were subdued, but some farmers distributed sweets and danced to songs. Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the group of farm unions organising the protests, said it welcomed the government’s announcement but that the protests would continue until the government recommits to the system of guaranteed prices. The protesters had long rejected a government offer to suspend the laws for 18 months.

Modi’s party hailed the move as a decision that prioritised farmers. Leaders of six farmer unions who spearheaded the movement in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab states said they would not forgive a government that labelled protesting farmers as terrorists and anti-nationals.

“Farmers were beaten with sticks, rods and detained for demanding legitimate rights ... farmers were mowed down by a speeding car belonging to a minister’s family ... tell me how can we forget it all?” said Sudhakar Rai, a senior member of a farmers’ union in Uttar Pradesh.

Amarinder Singh, former chief minister of Punjab state — home to many of the protesting farmers — on Friday hailed Modi's announcement as "great news".

"Thankful to PM @narendramodi... for acceding to the demands of every punjabi" he tweeted. Modi's announcement came on Guru Purab, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, to which many of the protesting farmers adhere.

Associated Press / Reuters