-The Hindu/ PTI Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was asked why there is no word on this from the Prime Minister, senior Ministers and why there is a “defensive reaction” when somebody asks questions about such things The Lakhimpur Kheri violence, in which four farmers were killed, is “absolutely condemnable,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said, emphasising that there are issues of such nature happening in other parts of India equally which should...

-The Tribune ‘Rail roko’ on Oct 18, mahapanchayat Oct 26 Terming the Lakhimpur Kheri incident a “pre-planned conspiracy” against farmers, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) today demanded the dismissal and arrest of Minister of State (Home) Ajay Mishra Teni. “The BJP wants to force farmers to resort to violence, but we will continue to use non-violent methods,” Kisan Morcha leaders said. Morcha leader Yogendra Yadav said unless Ajay Mishra was dismissed from the Cabinet...

-The Hindu If demands are not met, ‘rail roko’ on October 18, Lucknow rally on October 24, say farmer protest leaders. Protesting farm unions have issued a call for farmers to again gather in strength in Tikunia in Uttar Pradesh on October 12, the “antim ardaas” day when last rites will be conducted for the farmers who died at Lakhimpur Kheri last Sunday. From there, the ashes of the victims will be...

-The Telegraph Haugen, a former Facebook data scientist, recently told the US Congress that the social media giant 'promotes global division and ethnic violence', including in India The disclosures of Frances Haugen, who hit the headlines across the world earlier this week as “the Facebook whistleblower”, include multiple references to the promotion of divisions and ethnic violence in India. Her main claims on Facebook’s work in India are that pages associated with the...

-Hindustan Times The BJP leadership has explicitly instructed the cadre to reinforce that the ongoing farm protests are “motivated” and an attempt to “destabilise” the country, a party functionary claimed The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has redoubled efforts to distance the farmer protests from the farm issues ahead of elections in states such as Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, where the demand from a section of farmers’ for repealing the farm laws enacted...