This week on NL Hafta, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Mehraj D Lone, and Raman Kirpal are joined by former Newslaundry reporter Rahul Kotiyal, who currently works with Dainik Bhaskar.

Starting off with new developments in the farmer protests at the borders of Delhi, Raman talks about how the Supreme Court’s order to stay the implementation of the farm laws might impact the protests. “After the Supreme Court order, the attempt will be to delegitimise the entire thing,” he says. “They’re going to build up public opinion, like ‘see, we have agreed to stay these laws and they’re still not going away’.”

Manisha says the Supreme Court order sets a bad precedent. “This essentially allows the BJP to get away, out of a sticky situation,” she says. “If the same precedence is taken in any other law, it can be very dangerous.”

On the farmers’ rally planned on Republic Day, Rahul, who has been covering the protests on the ground, says: “The farmer leaders have stated very clearly that they will not try to disturb the annual Republic Day parade...in any way or form.”

Discussing the Allahabad High Court’s decision to strike down certain provisions of the Special Marriage Act that made it mandatory for couples to publicly publish in advance their intent to marry, the panel agrees it’s a step in the right direction. Mehraj cautions that such decisions will prove effective only if the rule of law is respected in the country.

The conversation also spans WhatsApp’s new privacy policy, the recent stock trading fraud by a CNBC Awaaz anchor, and Donald Trump’s impeachment.

Tune in!