Bengaluru(PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to repeal the three contentious farm laws showed his sensitivity.

Rejecting the claim that the government bowed to the year-long protest, Bommai said that the three laws were part of the liberalisation and globalisation process started in 1991-92 and were in line with the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's agreement with the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

"It is not a question of bowing. This process of liberalisation and globalisation started in 1991-'92. As part of it, various laws were to be formulated. Further, the UPA government had signed an agreement with the WTO. Agriculture Reforms and the Agriculture Marketing Reforms were also part of it," Bommai claimed.

According to him, the draft bill was pending during the UPA government and a decision was taken after bringing certain changes and taking consensus of all the states to give proper returns to the farmers.

"However, the farmers of Punjab, Haryana and other states insisted for a regulated market system and held protests for one year," Bommai said.

He also said that Modi tried to convince the farmer leaders but they did not agree.

"The Prime Minister has announced withdrawing all the three laws in the upcoming parliament session. It is a sensitive government. We have responded to the farmers' demand," Bommai said.

He denied that the decision to repeal the three laws had anything to do with the forthcoming elections in five states.

"We had won by-elections even in the midst of protests. The decision has no connection with the election in five states. The Prime Minister felt that some more discussions were necessary and accordingly, the government felt that withdrawing the farm laws will build confidence among people," Bommai explained.

Former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa too welcomed Prime Minister's decision to repeal the three laws.

"The Prime Minister has announced withdrawing the three laws. The farmers were agitating against them. On behalf of the farmers of the country, I congratulate him," Yediyurappa told reporters.

On the occasion of 552nd Prakash Parva or the birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev on Friday, Modi announced repealing the three contentious laws.

Most of the agitators were holding protests around Delhi and other parts of North India for over a year demanding that the government withdraw the three laws saying they were anti-farmer.

These laws are: The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.

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New Delhi: The Indian women's team emerged champion in the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup with a dominant 78-40 victory in the summit clash against Nepal here on Sunday.

On a memorable night at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here, India produced a masterclass of speed, strategy and skill, dishing out a clinical show.

A brisk start marked Turn 1 as the Indian attackers took charge of the proceedings. Three batches in the Nepal women were out by simple touches on 7 occasions, putting 14 points to India's kitty.

Skipper Priyanka Ingle was in the best form with multiple touch points to her name, as the hosts started off in an excellent manner. This was enough to take the Women in Blue to 34 points and preventing a single Dream Run for the Nepal team.

Manmati Dhami got Vaishnavi Pawar, and B Samjhana eliminated Priyanka Ingle but B Chaithra took India's first batch of Turn 2 into the Dream Run.

It wasn't for long, though, as Dipa completed the ALL OUT just moments later. This got the side back into the game but they only managed to score 24 points at the end of Turn 2, with an 11-point deficit at half time.

India were once again the dominant force in Turn 3, never allowing the Nepal defenders to settle in their stride. BK Dipa was a regular for Nepal but it went in vain throughout, ensuring that the Indians edged closer to the trophy.

Chaithra was the orchestrator of the Dream Run for India, taking the score to a massive 78 points in Turn 4. Their batch went on for a massive 5 minutes and 14 seconds, closing out the game for India and confirming them as the first-ever champions of the Kho Kho World Cup.

India's path to glory had included commanding victories over South Korea, Iran and Malaysia in the group stages, followed by triumph against Bangladesh in the quarter-finals and a masterful win over South Africa in the semi-finals.