Govt To Withdraw 86 Cases Against Farmers Who Participated In Farm Law Protests, Says Agriculture Minister

His written reply in the Rajya Sabha came in response to a query from Congress leader Deepender Hooda on whether the govt has withdrawn the cases filed against farmers during the protest, as promised.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar stated on Friday that the home ministry has decided to dismiss 86 cases against farmers who participated in a year-long protest to repeal three farm laws.

Farmers began protesting against the three ordinances in November 2020, which were repealed in November 2021.

"As per the inputs received from Ministry of Home Affairs, 86 no. of cases against farmers for withdrawal have been received and concurred with. Further, the Ministry of Railways has issued direction for the withdrawal of all cases registered by Railway Protection Force (RPF) during the farmers’ agitation," Tomar stated this in a written response during the current winter session of Parliament.

His written reply in the Rajya Sabha came in response to a query from Congress member Deepender Singh Hooda about whether the administration has withdrawn the complaints filed against farmers during the protest in all states, as promised.

Hooda also demanded information on the compensation granted to the families of farmers killed during the protests.

"Such details are not maintained in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare," Tomar responded. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on November 19, 2021, that the government has decided to abolish the three farm laws and urged protesting farmers to come home.

Thousands of farmers, primarily from Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh, will stage a demonstration at the national capital's boundaries commencing November 26, 2020, to demand the repeal of the three farm laws.

The Indian agriculture acts of 2020, also known as the Farm Bills, were three acts passed by the Indian Parliament in September 2020. The bills were adopted by the Lok Sabha on September 17, 2020, and by the Rajya Sabha on September 20, 2020. On September 27, 2020, India's President, Ram Nath Kovind, granted his approval.