Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced a rollback of the three agri laws at the centre of protests by farmers for the past year, a surprise concession warily welcomed by farmers, happy but holding out for an MSP guarantee, and also politicians across divides.

Reactions have been pouring in from several political quarters. While the ruling BJP hopes the decision to repeal the three laws will cancel out the political headwinds it has encountered in Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh, Opposition parties mainly the Congress has gone one step ahead in asking for the PM’s apology to the farmers for the "pain" inflicted on them.

Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also posed a set of five questions to the government, asking what is the roadmap and way forward for giving MSP to farmers, doubling farmers' income and of freeing them from debt. He said the "anti-farmer" BJP's powers and those of its capitalist friends have finally lost and today is the day of the defeat of Modi's "arrogance".

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday welcomed Modi's "statesman-like" decision to repeal the three farm laws, and said it reflects that there is no other thought except the welfare of each and every Indian for the PM.

Shah tweeted, "PM @narendramodi's announcement relating to the farm laws is a welcome and statesmanlike move.As the Prime Minister pointed out in his address, the Government of India will keep serving our farmers and always support them in their endeavours."

Karnataka Chief Minister and party leader Basavaraj Bommai said the decision to repeal the laws showed Modi's sensitivity. Rejecting the claim that the government had bowed down to the protesters, he said the laws were part of the liberalisation and globalisation process started in 1991-92 and were in line with the previous UPA government's agreement with the WTO.

Several Opposition parties, on their part, congratulated the farmers for their triumph but also questioned the government's motives. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described the Centre's decision as a "victory against injustice".

"Country's 'annadatas' (food providers) have made arrogance bow its head through satyagraha," Gandhi added.

"What cannot be achieved by democratic protests can be achieved by the fear of impending elections!" his party colleague P Chidambaram tweeted.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sent her heartfelt congratulations to the farmers. "My heartfelt congratulations to every single farmer who fought relentlessly and were not fazed by the cruelty with which @BJP4India treated you. This is YOUR VICTORY! My deepest condolences to everyone who lost their loved ones in this fight," she tweeted.

The CPI(M) demanded that Prime Minister should apologise for the hardship and trouble caused by his "dictatorial step" of enacting the three farm laws. The quest for justice for those targeted by the government and its agencies through false cases will continue. The PM must apologise for the hardship and trouble caused by his dictatorial step of farm laws to benefit his crony business partners," CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury in a tweet.

”Salutes to our farmers and their brave struggle which has led to the repeal of Modi's three black farm laws. We must not forget the sacrifice of more than 750 farmers who have lost their lives in this struggle, he said.

Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin said Modi's announcement was a victory of the farmers' protest. "I wholeheartedly welcome Hon'ble @PMOIndia's decision to repeal the three anti-farmer laws. History teaches us that people's wishes shall prevail in a democracy. I congratulate all the farmers & bow down to their determination for having achieved this through Gandhian means," the Tamil Nadu chief minister said.

In Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah said anyone who believes the government repealed the farm laws out of the goodness of its heart was completely mistaken. “This government only responds to cold hard numbers - bypoll setback = fuel price reduction. Poor internal polls numbers for Western UP & Punjab = #Farmlawsrepealed, Abdullah wrote on Twitter.”

In Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati's view, the sacrifices of the farmers had paid off with the government in the end withdrawing the three controversial laws but it was too late. "The demand for a national law to assure support price for farmers' produce is still pending. The BSP demands that it should be introduced in the Winter Session of Parliament. The government should accept this demand," she told reporters.