Editor's Pick: A tragic Sunday in Lakhimpur

Protests by farmers against Union Minister of State Ajay Kumar Mishra in Lakhimpur Kheri district took an ugly turn when a car allegedly driven by his son ploughed into the farmers killing them. The farmers were holding black flags against Mr. Mishra for threatening them last month to "get their behaviour in order". They had gheraoed the helipad where Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who had been invited by Mr. Mishra for an event, was supposed to land. The farmers allege that while they were dispersing, one farmer was shot dead, and a car driven by Mr. Mishra's son, Ashish, deliberately ran over three others. The angry farmers retaliated by setting on fire vehicles that were part of Mr. Mishra's convoy. This claimed the life of four others. Mr. Mishra refuted the allegation that his son was at the wheel. He claimed that the farmers were killed when protesters threw stones at the vehicle which was going to receive Mr. Maurya. The farmer unions rejected this version of events. Following the violence, the farmers demanded that Mr. Mishra be immediately removed from the Council of Ministers, charges of murder be slapped against his son, and the case be investigated by a Supreme Court judge. Meanwhile, political leaders including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Chandrashekar Azad rushed to Lakhimpur district but were detained on their way. The farmers have been protesting for months against the three contentious farm laws passed by Parliament last year which they believe will benefit corporates at their cost. The laws are under challenge in the Supreme Court now, but this hasn't stopped the farmers from protesting. Despite their demonstrations being brought to a halt because of lockdowns and COVID-19 waves, the farmers have regrouped time and again and kept the momentum going. The protests, and especially the latest violence involving a BJP MP, could possibly bring about winds of change in States such as Uttar Pradesh which are going to the polls soon. This is because Rakesh Tikait, the leader of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, is mobilising Jats in the region and enjoys clout especially in western U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has condemned the violence. The tragic outcome of yesterday's protests and the political implications of this story make it the top pick of the day. The Hindu Explains Locked in a stalemate: On need to restore normalcy along India-China border Tentative recovery: On growth numbers Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor's Pick and more. Click here Try out The Hindu's daily news quiz In which year did the Sri Lankan civil war end? 1. 1995 2. 1999 3. 2006 4. 2009 To find out the answer and play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 04 OCTOBER 2021 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( A tragic Sunday in Lakhimpur [A tragic Sunday in Lakhimpur] Protests by farmers against Union Minister of State Ajay Kumar Mishra in Lakhimpur Kheri district took an ugly turn when a car allegedly driven by his son [ploughed into the farmers killing them](. The farmers were holding black flags against Mr. Mishra for threatening them last month to "get their behaviour in order". They had gheraoed the helipad where Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who had been invited by Mr. Mishra for an event, was supposed to land. The farmers allege that while they were dispersing, one farmer was shot dead, and a car driven by Mr. Mishra's son, Ashish, deliberately ran over three others. The angry farmers retaliated by setting on fire vehicles that were part of Mr. Mishra's convoy. This claimed the life of four others. Mr. Mishra refuted the allegation that his son was at the wheel. He claimed that the farmers were killed when protesters threw stones at the vehicle which was going to receive Mr. Maurya. The farmer unions rejected this version of events. Following the violence, the farmers demanded that Mr. Mishra be immediately removed from the Council of Ministers, charges of murder be slapped against his son, and the case be investigated by a Supreme Court judge. Meanwhile, political leaders including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Chandrashekar Azad rushed to Lakhimpur district but were detained on their way.  The [farmers have been protesting]( months against the three contentious farm laws passed by Parliament last year which they believe will benefit corporates at their cost. The laws are under challenge in the Supreme Court now, but this hasn't stopped the farmers from protesting. Despite their demonstrations being brought to a halt because of lockdowns and COVID-19 waves, the farmers have regrouped time and again and kept the momentum going. The protests, and especially the latest violence involving a BJP MP, could possibly bring about winds of change in States such as Uttar Pradesh which are going to the polls soon. This is because [Rakesh Tikait,]( the leader of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, is mobilising Jats in the region and enjoys clout especially in western U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has condemned the violence. The tragic outcome of yesterday's protests and the political implications of this story make it the top pick of the day. The Hindu Explains [Arrow][Locked in a stalemate: On need to restore normalcy along India-China border]( [Arrow][Tentative recovery: On growth numbers]( [underlineimg] Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor's Pick and more. [Click here]( Try out The Hindu's daily news quiz In which year did the Sri Lankan civil war end? 1. 1995 2. 1999 3. 2006 4. 2009 To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here](. Today's Best Reads [[Reimagining food systems with lessons from India] Reimagining food systems with lessons from India]( [[A ‘Maharaja’ price to pay for an aviation homecoming] A ‘Maharaja’ price to pay for an aviation homecoming]( [[Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan among three arrested after drug bust on cruise ship off Mumbai] Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan among three arrested after drug bust on cruise ship off Mumbai]( [[Four farmers killed as car in Union Minister’s convoy runs amok in Uttar Pradesh] Four farmers killed as car in Union Minister’s convoy runs amok in Uttar Pradesh]( Copyright @ 2021, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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