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- In a surprise concession
on Friday,

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India's prime minister
Narendra Modi said farm laws

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that sparked a year of protests
will be scrapped.

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- Today, I have come to
tell you, the whole country,

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that we have decided
to withdraw, repeal,

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all three agricultural laws.

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- Friday was a significant
about-face for Modi,

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a combative leader,

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though the news comes
just ahead of elections

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early next year
in several states,

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including Uttar Pradesh,
the country's most populous.

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Farmers feared the overhaul

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would cut the prices
they get for their crops.

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They staged nationwide protests

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that sometimes
broke into violence

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and drew in activists
and celebrities

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from outside of India,
including climate activist

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Greta Thunberg
and US singer Rihanna.

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Many of the largest
are around the capital,

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New Delhi, where they've
been camped since last November.

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- We welcome this decision
and announcement,

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but this should
have been done earlier.

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- The legislation was introduced
months earlier, in September.

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The government had said the
reforms meant new opportunities

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and better prices for farmers.

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It let them sell produce

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beyond government-backed
wholesale markets,

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but farmers said the changes
would instead

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make them vulnerable to
competition from big business.