Three controversial laws at the core of farmer protests have been paused by the Supreme Court & the government will respect the order, President Ram Nath Kovind said on January 29. He made the statement while strongly defending the measures. The government is trying to tackle misgivings over the laws, he told parliament in his traditional budget session address. Around 20 opposition parties boycotted the event in support of the farmers\' demand that the three laws be repealed. Addressing a joint sitting of Parliament on the opening day of the Budget session, the President also condemned as \"very unfortunate\" the violence during the Republic Day tractor rally by farmers in Delhi. On the farm laws, he said they were passed after extensive deliberations and had \"immediately benefited\" 10 crore small farmers.