Indian farmers call off protests after 15 months

Indian farmers today called off their 15-month-long agitation after the government repealed the three controversial farm sector reform laws and accepted most of their other demands, including giving a legal cover to minimum support price for crops.

The announcement of the withdrawal of their agitation was made by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of 40 farmers' unions, which spearheaded the protests, SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal told the media in New Delhi.

He said the farmers would vacate the sites of their agitation on the borders of Delhi -- where they have been camping since November last year -- on December 11, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

If farmers' demands are not fulfilled till January 15, they can take call on resuming protest, said another farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni.

Rajewal said farmers would bring out victory marches on December 11 to their homes.

The government had yesterday sent a written draft proposal to SKM's five-member committee following a November 21 letter from SKM listing six demands.

After holding out for more than a year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally bowed to the farmers' main demand for repeal of the three laws by announcing their scrapping on the first day of the ongoing winter session of parliament.