欧美文化:Farmer leader says to end protest after farm laws repealed in Indian parliament

NEW DELHI, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Rakesh Tikait, a senior leader of the alliance of farmer organisations Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), said on Friday that the ongoing anti-farm laws protest will end only after the contentious legislations are repealed in the Indian parliament.

Tikait stressed that the government should talk to farmers over the issue of minimum support price (MSP) of crops and other matters.

"The Prime Minister has announced he has withdrawn the three farm laws. Prime Minister go to the parliament and get the laws repealed," he said. "The farmer will not return to home without the certificate (of what you are saying) and give us the guarantee of MSP. Here crops are not being sold on MSP."

In a surprise address to the nation on Friday morning, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the three controversial farm laws will be withdrawn in the upcoming parliament session.

"We couldn't convince a section of farmers despite best efforts," he announced. "The goal of the three farm laws was to empower farmers, especially small farmers."

Meanwhile, the government so far has not clarified whether it will take back the police cases filed against agitating farmers in different parts of the country during the protest period.

The ongoing farmers' protest began in November last year, demanding the withdrawal of three controversial farm laws.

The federal government has been strongly defending the laws. However, farmers feared the new laws will weaken their position and make them dependent on corporates.

The protesting farmers are camping on the borders of the capital New Delhi.