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  • in India, the Supreme Court has temporarily halted the implementation of controversial new agricultural laws that have led to widespread protest from farmers.

  • The chief justice says that the court will form a committee to hear their grievances against the laws.

  • Tens of thousands of farmers have been camped out on the outskirts of Delhi for more than a month.

  • They say the laws benefit large private buyers at the expense of producers.

  • Nearly 60% of India's population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods.

  • Correspondent Manera Chowdhury is standing by with the view from Delhi.

  • So manera, what more can you tell us about the court's decision?

  • Well before this decision came in, there were eight rounds of conversations and negotiations between the government and the farmer groups which ended up in deadlock.

  • There was no outcome that was reached.

  • Now the Supreme Court, the top coat of the country, has decided to put a temporary hold of the implementation of these laws in an attempt to find a solution.

  • The Supreme Court had also previously expressed disappointment with the government by the way the government handled this crisis.

  • Now the court has formed a four member committee off agricultural expert in an effort in an attempt to find a solution to this deadlock.

  • What was so controversial about the laws?

  • Well, these three laws that the government was trying to bring in, according to the government, were really good for the farmers, According to the government.

  • These laws would have allowed the farmers to produce their mark that took market their produce more freely would have given them more opportunities to earn more and profit more on.

  • They also said that these laws would actually lead to better infrastructure and better infrastructure and agriculture because off the increased private investment.

  • But that's exactly what the farmers are worried about.

  • The increase in private investment, the increase in private players and also the biggest concern has been about the minimum support price, which we call the MSP system here, which is essentially ah, minimum assured income that the farmers get from the government agencies when they directly by their produce from the farmers on these laws, according to the farmers, would create a situation in which the government agencies would buy less and less, hence making the minimum support price system is relevant.

  • Okay, so given all of that what are now the next steps in this process.

  • And what is the reaction likely to be?

  • Well, the early reaction which have come from the farmers are yes, that they're seeing it as a positive development.

  • But they're not giving up.

  • As they say, They are pretty determined that they will not leave the site of protests unless they see the three farm laws permanently repealed.

  • Manera Chowdhury joining us from Delhi.

  • Thank you.

in India, the Supreme Court has temporarily halted the implementation of controversial new agricultural laws that have led to widespread protest from farmers.

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