Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday directed the authorities to declare a holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts on Tuesday, in view of the heavy rain forecast. 

MK Stalin also instructed the authorities to issue an advisory to allow employees of the IT companies in the aforesaid districts to work from home from October 15 to 18. The Chief Minister chaired a meeting in the Secretariat to review monsoon preparedness. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam, and the Director General of Police Shankar Jiwal were among the attendees.

Earlier on Sunday, the Tamil Nadu government had alerted District Collectors about the weather prediction till October 17. The state government instructed the authorities to ensure precautionary measures and maintain law and order to avert any untoward incident. 

Furthermore, the government listed out the expected impact in the districts, which included the possibilities of traffic disruption, water-logging in low-lying areas, road blocks due to falling of treees/branches, damages in informal settlements, increased water levels in water bodies, and landslides in hilly areas. 

Meanwhile, the School Education Department has issued a circular to all schools in the state, directing them to implement precautionary measures to ensure student safety during the rainy season. The measures include monitoring electricity cables, clearing drainage systems, pruning trees and ensuring that water does not stagnate on school rooftops. Additionally, schools have been advised to avoid using dilapidated or structurally weak buildings.

The circular stated that headmasters and teachers have been instructed to inform parents not to allow their children near water bodies. It added that students should be encouraged to use raincoats and umbrellas.

It also mentioned that schools are required to provide details of the staff in charge to the revenue department in case the premises need to be used to accommodate rain-affected people.

Violent clashes between two groups in a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich over the playing of music during a Durga idol immersion procession on Sunday killed a 22-year-old man and left several others injured. 

Following the incident, tension gripped the area as people set multiple vehicles on fire, prompting police to use force to bring the situation under control. Reports said that clashes erupted when stones were thrown and gunshots were fired at the procession as it was passing through Bahraich’s Mahrajganj Bazar area.

The Bharaich Police detained nearly 30 people. The police also arrested one man, identified as Salman, after they found evidence of shots being fired at the procession from his home and shop.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath took note of the incident and summoned a meeting with senior officials to discuss the law and order situation in the district. Taking to X, the Chief Minister said that those who spoiled the law and order situation in Bahraich’s Mahsi district will not be spared. He added that safety is guaranteed to all, but instructions have been given to identify the rioters and those whose negligence led to the incident and take strict action against them.

He further mentioned that immersion of idols will continue, and that administration and police officials have been directed to be present on the spot and speak with religious organisations to ensure that the immersion of idols is done.

Reportedly, police said that a man identified as Ram Gopal Mishra, who was part of the procession, was shot. He was hurried to a hospital where he died during treatment, one of his family members said. 

On Monday, the family members of Mishra refused to perform his last rites, stating that they would not proceed with the funeral until the accused were arrested. The body of Ram Gopal Mishra was then taken to the Mahsip sub-division office where locals also gathered, with sticks in their hands, demanding action against the accused.

Vrinda Shukla, Bahraich’s Superintendent of Police (SP) was present at the spot, along with other senior officials. He also suspended two police officials for negligence.

He said that nearly 30 people have been detained, and one of the accused, Salman, from whose home gunshots were fired, has been arrested. He also asserted that the Durga idol immersion has started again. He added that they are checking the videos of the incident and trying to identify other accused.

Speaking to the media, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader ST Hasan urged people to not take the law into their own hands. He mentioned that no community should agitate the other community, adding that the right way is to tell their problems to the administration.

He noted that people play music on loudspeakers near Masjids during the time of Namaz, and at most of the places where such clashes happen, it gets converted into Hindu-Muslim violence. The former Moradabad MP remarked that such incidents weaken the country and society. Action must be taken against those who take laws in their hands, he continued.

Days after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah decides to return a MUDA land, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and his family have chosen to return five acres of land allocated to the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, owned by the Kharge family, in the midst of an ongoing investigation into the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allocation scandal.

Originally, the land was granted to Kharge’s son, Rahul M Kharge, in the Hardware Sector of the Hi-Tech Defence and Aerospace Park in Bagalur by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB).

The five-acre plot is part of a 45.94-acre area designated for the Hi-Tech Defence Aerospace Park by the KIADB.

Meanwhile, Minister Priyank Kharge shared a letter on Sunday on X and said, “On Sep 20, 2024, the Trust has sought the cancellation of the CA site that has allotted for Skill Development.” However, he reiterated that Siddhartha Vihar Trust is a public educational, cultural, and charitable trust. He added that it is not a private or family trust, but “All institutions established are “Not For Profit”.

Furthermore, he said being a charitable trust, none of the trustees can benefit directly or indirectly from the trust’s assets and income. The Karnataka Minister said the main reason the trust wanted to set up a skill development and research centre in an industrial area was to provide industrial exposure to the students.

He further said that only an allotment letter was issued and the lease deed was not executed. The trust has not requested or received any subsidy, financial support or reduced rate of allotment for the allotted CA site, he added.

“The trust was fully eligible to apply for and receive an allotment of a CA site for an educational institution. However, any educational institution cannot function effectively while constantly facing malafide, baseless and politically motivated allegations. The trust did not wish to be drawn into long-drawn controversies which will divert attention and efforts from the primary objective of education and social service,” Priyank said.

In his letter, he said, “In light of the circumstances, the Trust wrote to the KIADB to withdrew our proposal and withdrew our request for a CA site for establishing a skill development and research centre on 20-09-2024.”

The Minister said, “The trust has been informed by the KIADB that the allotment has been cancelled by their letter dated 27-09-2024 ——— It is most unfortunate that despite the Chairman being fully qualified for the site, BJP chose to pick on him for their petty politics.”

Hitting out at the saffron party, he said a person who can’t hold a bat can become Chairman of ICC or BCCI, but a person who was conferred Agni Award from DRDO for Excellence in Self Reliance can’t build a skill development center for the youth.

The controversy arose in March 2024, when the Congress-led Karnataka government awarded the land to the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, headed by Rahul Kharge. The land was allocated to the trust under the Scheduled Caste (SC) quota. Several members of the Kharge family, including Mallikarjun Kharge, his son-in-law and Kalaburagi MP Radhakrishna, and Rahul Kharge, serve as trustees.

Activist Dinesh Kallahalli had filed a complaint with Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, alleging irregularities in the land allotment process and sought permission to prosecute Karnataka Industries Minister MB Patil through the state Lokayukta.

Minister Patil denied any wrongdoing, asserting that Rahul Kharge was a “qualified applicant” and that the allotment was made transparently through a single-window approval process.

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Lahar Singh Siroya brought the allotment to light, stating that a trust (Siddhartha Vihara Trust) managed by Mallikarjun Kharge’s family had been allocated 5 acres of KIADB land meant for civic amenities under the SC quota.