By Mayank Bhardwaj

NEW DELHI (Reuters), Tens of thousands marched over night to join protestors camping outside New Delhi’s capital. This was to commemorate a year of demonstrations against three Farm Laws.

Last week, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi listened to farmers and reaffirmed his resolve to stop the nation’s longest-running protest by farmers.

Modi struck a conciliatory tone and promised that his government would repeal all laws during the next session of parliament. This is expected to begin next week.

The farmers celebrated the end of the demonstration but claimed that the protest could only be stopped if parliament repealed these laws. In return, the government offered legislation to ensure minimum support prices (MSPs), which would apply to all products and not just wheat and rice.

Rakesh Tikait, prominent leader of Bharatiya Kisan Union (one of the biggest farmers’ unions), stated that farmers across the country had reached the camping grounds to commemorate one year of our historical protest.

“We are grateful to the government for repealing the laws. But, we will protest until MSPs are established for all crops. A committee should also be formed to investigate our other demands, such as the return of legal cases against farmers.

The government currently buys rice at MSPs but only 6% of India’s farmers are covered by the safety net.

Tikait claimed that 700 farmers died during protests and that compensations must be paid to the families.

Tens of thousands have been encamping in the last year to protest against the coronavirus epidemics, which has left many of them vulnerable.

The main protest areas have become semi-permanent settlements over the years, with barbershops, community kitchens, and an adequate hospital with a doctor.