Matthew Perry, the actor best known for playing the role of Chandler Bing in the sitcom ‘Friends’ died at the age of 54 in Los Angeles on October 28. He was found unconscious in a hot tub and the first responders were unable to revive him. Fans and supporters have been pouring in love and tributes for their favourite characters. Mr Perry’s ex-fiance Molly Hurwitz, a literary manager, broke her silence on the actor’s tragic death and said that she feels relieved knowing that he is at peace. 

The couple got engaged in November 2020 and were dating since 2018. They parted ways in June 2021. In a statement about their break up, Mr Perry said, Sometimes things just don’t work out and this is one of them.”

Now, in an Instagram post honouring the actor, Ms Hurwitz said, “He would love that the world is talking about how talented he was. And he really was very talented.” She added, “As the Friends reunion was approaching, we rewatched the show together. “F***, I was so good!!!…See what I did there???” We rewound and studied scenes. Our respect and appreciation of humor is something that connected us. Being with him as he rediscovered his brilliance was magical.”

She added that her love for him was deeper than anything else and he had a very strong impact on her life. However, he was a “complicated” man. “But, I obviously knew that man in a very different way, too. While I loved him deeper than I could comprehend, he was complicated, and he caused pain like I’d never known. No one in my adult life has had a more profound impact on me than Matthew Langford Perry. I have tremendous gratitude for that, for everything I learned from our relationship,” Ms Hurwitz wrote. 

“Matty, I feel relief that you are at peace. Sincerely, Moll-o-Rama(…fication),” she concluded.

Meanwhile, the cast of the sitcom ‘Friends’ also released a joint statement and said that they are “utterly devastated” by the loss of one of their own, as per a report in People Magazine.

“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” they said in the statement. “There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”

It continued, “In time we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.” The statement has been signed by Jennifer Aniston who played the character of Rachel Green, Courtney Cox who played Monica Geller, Lisa Kudrow who played Phoebe, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer, who played the characters of Joey and Ross respectively in the show. 

Gatherings have been banned in Maharashtra’s Beed district as protests over the Maratha quota issue turned violent yesterday and several buildings belonging to the Nationalist Congress Party and a legislator were vandalised.

Similar restrictions have been imposed in Dharashiv too.

Angry protesters on Monday threw stones at and set on fire the Beed house of MLA Prakash Solanke, who belongs to the Ajit Pawar-led camp of the NCP that split from Sharad Pawar’s outfit this year. The office of the Sharad Pawar faction and the Municipal House building in Beed were also set on fire.

Government buses were also set on fire in Solapur and Pandharpur by quota protesters, showed photos late at night. Security has been stepped up outside the houses of NCP leader Chhagan Bhjbal and Union Minister Narayan Rane in view of the protests.

At least 49 people have been arrested in connection with the violence in Beed, Superintendent of Police Nandkumar Thakur told PTI.

Marathas have been demanding the reservation in education and government jobs. The latest protests were triggered by alleged comments against a hunger strike by pro-quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met Governor Ramesh Bais and reportedly discussed the law and order situation in the state. He also discussed the issue with his deputy Defendra Fadnavis late last night.

His government is likely to accept the report of a committee led by retired judge Sandeep Shinde on how to issue Kunbi caste certificates to the Maratha community. After examining the documents of a lakh people, about 11,530 Marathas were found to have documents of being Kunbi, the report has said.

Discussions over calling a special assembly session may be taken up during a cabinet meeting scheduled today, said sources. Opposition parties had already raised a demand for a special session with the Governor.

Mr Solanke, whose house was set on fire in Beed, was purportedly heard calling the quota demand a “child’s game” in a widely circulated audio clip. “The person who has not even contested a gram panchayat election (seen as a dig at Manoj Patil), has become a smart person today,” he is alleged to have said.

The Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP has condemned the arson and called it a “complete failure of the (state) Home Minister”.

The Maharashtra government had earlier stated that it is committed to granting reservations to the Maratha community but that requires legal scrutiny.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday remembered his grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 39th death anniversary saying that she was the source of his strength.

“My strength, my grandmother! I will always protect the India for which you sacrificed everything. Your memories are always with me, in my heart,” Rahul Gandhi posted on X (Formerly Twitter).

Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge paid floral tribute to Former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi on her 39th death anniversary at Shakti Sthal in the national capital.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Varun Gandhi remembered his grandmother saying that she was truly the ‘Mother of the Nation’.

“Salute to my grandmother, late Indira Gandhi ji on her death anniversary, who was a symbol of unmatched courage and struggle and the pioneer of democratic socialism,” Varun Gandhi posted on X.

“Along with the determination to make tough decisions, you also had a very simple and gentle tenderness of motherhood. You are truly the ‘Mother of the Nation'”, he added.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also paid tribute to the former Prime Minister of India.

In his tribute message, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that Indira Gandhi played an important role in building a strong and progressive India.

“A humble tribute to Indira Gandhi, India’s first woman Prime Minister and our icon on her death anniversary, who played an important role in building a strong and progressive India with her strong will, efficient leadership, unique working style and foresight,” Mr Kharge posted on X (Formerly Twitter).

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor remembered his first meeting with the former Prime Minister of India on her death anniversary.

“Remembering Smt Indira Gandhi on her martyrdom day. I first met her as a student leader in 1975 when the PM convened a discussion at her home with a dozen of us from Delhi University. Two months later I was able to interview her for a Swiss youth magazine (pic). Paying tribute to her memory in Thiruvananthapuram,” he said in a post on X.

IYC (Indian Youth Congress) President Srinivas BV and other youth workers also paid homage to Indira Gandhi at Shakti Sthal Rajghat.

Born on November 19, 1917, to India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and Kamala Nehru, Indira Gandhi served as the first and only woman Prime Minister of the country from January 1966 to March 1977 and again from January 1980 until her assassination on 31 October 1984.