Ghazipur: Just across the Delhi border, at Ghazipur, farmers woke up to a surprise announcement. Within hours, one of the smaller protest sites was alive with firecrackers and music as scores of farmers made their way there, to celebrate the announcement to repeal the three farm laws.Some waved from bikes while others held flags of the farmers’ umbrella body, the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, from the tractors. Addressing the nation early on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that the laws had been brought in the best interest of the nation and were aimed at small and marginal farmers. He then apologised for them and announced their repeal in the coming parliament session.But at Ghazipur, Modi’s words have failed to bring back any trust.“I woke up remembering Kashmir Singh, he had died protesting against the farm laws. Our old men, our women and our children have been martyred. This announcement was made over their dead bodies. We will never forget or forgive this,” says Harjinder Singh. Harjinder stands in front of a poster of a protester who has died in the course of the agitation. Photo: Sumedha PalSpeaking to The Wire, Inderjeet Kaur, a young woman who had been camping at the site said, “All it took him was four minutes. We have been sitting here camping with our parents for over four seasons, through sickness, violence and vilification. From ‘andolanjeevi’ to ‘Khalistani’ to ‘terrorist’, we have been called everything and anything. Today Modi’s statements have proven that andolanjeevis have won, that dissent has won.” Also read: ‘People’s Victory, But Protests Not Over Yet’: Farmers React to News of Repeal of LawsNotably, it was Modi who had criticised ‘andolanjeevis’, literally ‘people who make a living out of protests’ in the parliament.She added, “The nation must note the power of dissent, not just for farm laws. This is a victory for those who question, for those who criticise and for those who have it in them to speak truth to power.” As song and dance on the borders continues, farmers tell this reporter that the announcement is just setting wheels in motion for greater political change.Protesters distribute sweets in Ghazipur. Photo: Sumedha PalA member of the All India Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan, who identified himself as ‘Chaudhary’, while addressing the crowds at Ghazipur, said, “There is fear and only fear that is governing this decision of the BJP, it is not out of respect for this protest or our resistance but the self serving motive of power that has stirred the BJP government.”He added, “They were aware of the fact that they will lose Uttar Pradesh polls just as they lost the Bengal elections.” In his speech, Modi urged the farmers to make their way back home after the protests. Farmers are not so easily convinced.BKU leader Rakesh Tikait has announced that farmers’ protests will continue until a formal policy on the guarantee of Minimum Support Price is formulated. Farmers are also keen to celebrate this victory on November 26, the one-year anniversary of the protests, at the protest sites themselves.Speaking to The Wire, Vaasu Kukreja of SKM’s legal committee said, “We are not going anywhere, we have decided to camp here until the formal processes of repealing of laws begins and the guarantee of an MSP is ensured. The commitment at Ghazipur and other sites is for all to see, we stand for solidarity and resistance.” Farmer Jhisiar Singh added that the community is not swayed. “Today is the day of Gurpurab, I am wearing a tricolour turban on my head, we are the real nationalists. The Modi government had promised us Rs 15 lakh rupees but then demonetisation happened, it has claimed it will create a $ 5 trillion economy yet all we see is joblessness. This is yet another jumla of the government.”