Indian government repeals farm reforms after year of protests

Opposition politicians hold a protest demanding repeal of three controversial agriculture laws on the opening day of the winter session of Parliament in New Delhi, India (Manish Swarup/AP)

Indian politicians have repealed agricultural legislation that provoked a year of nationwide protests by farmers, in a move that was seen as a major reversal and rare climbdown for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, which had ardently defended the controversial reforms.

The Farm Laws Repeal bill passed the lower and upper houses of Parliament with scant debate — 10 days after Mr Modi announced the surprise decision to withdraw the three laws in a televised national address.