Another controversy has engulfed Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district on the heels of the Mandya flag controversy. This involved the removal of a right wing flag and a board bearing the name of right wing icon VD Savarkar. A protest took place over the removal in Bhatkal’s Tenginagundi today and the local BJP workers and panchayat members got into an altercation with panchayat officials.

The workers argued that VD Savarkar’s name board was installed with the approval of the panchayat, and they protested against the removal of the flagpole with the right wing flags.

The officials claimed that no permission was sought from the gram panchayat.

“Don’t think we are sitting quiet. We have permission. Is it a Pakistan flag that we put up? Who gave you the order to raze this?” said one of the angry villagers.

The Zilla Panchayat chief, along with senior authorities, decided to issue notices for all such structures built in the area under the panchayat. They will be allowed to stay only if they have the necessary permissions from local administration or local taluks.

If the mandatory documents are not produced within 15 days, the structures will be razed.

“We have decided to issue notices to all such structures in that panchayat. If they have the necessary permissions from local administration or local taluks, they will be considered.
Otherwise, 15 days time will be given to produce documents. If not, unauthorised structures and nameboards will be removed,” said Ishwar Kumar, the chief of Zilla Parishad.

Last week, a saffron Hanuman flag hoisted by a local religious organisation, was taken down leading to huge row in the village of Keragodu and nearby areas of Mandya district.

It led to widespread protests that escalated into a political conflict between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular) of HD Kumaraswamy.

The flag was funded and set up by a section of villagers near a temple. Reports indicated the BJP and JDS were also involved.

But many people held protests and complained to the district administration, which later removed the flag.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren might step into his shoes if he gets arrested, sources in his Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Party have claimed. Mr Soren will be questioned by the Enforcement Directorate tomorrow in connection with an alleged money laundering case. There are chances that he might be arrested by the agency after his statement is recorded.

Mr Soren made the announcement at a meeting of the MLAs of the ruling alliance this evening. The MLAs have agreed since preservation of the government is crucial at this point.

“We, all the MLAs of the alliance, of Congress, are fully supporting the Chief Minister,” Banna Gupta, the state’s health minister who belongs to the Congress, told reporters late this evening.

Delhi and surrounding areas woke up to a dense layer of fog this morning, severely impacting visibility on roads. The bone-chilling winter has exacerbated the situation, prompting authorities to issue advisories and causing disruptions in transportation services.

In response to the adverse weather conditions, Delhi Airport issued a passenger advisory. The advisory highlighted potential disruptions for flights that are not CAT III compliant. Passengers were urged to contact their respective airlines for updated flight information.

Kind attention to all flyers!#Fog #FogAlert #DelhiAirport pic.twitter.com/6LXeMHn30F

— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) January 30, 2024

Visuals from various locations in Delhi showed residents huddling around bonfires to shield themselves from the biting cold. The plummeting temperatures have not only affected personal comfort but have also led to challenges in daily commuting.

#WATCH | Delhi: A thick layer of fog enveloped parts of the national capital this morning.

(Visuals from Kartavya Path, shot at 5:40 am) pic.twitter.com/Yzb444lKfD

— ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2024

Several trains arriving to and departing from Delhi were also delayed due to the thick layer of fog.

Residents in the Red Fort area voiced their concerns, citing delays in bus services and, in some instances, a complete absence of public transportation due to the severe weather conditions. The weather is not only impacting daily routines but also affecting businesses, as customers shy away from venturing out in the intense fog.

Speaking to ANI, a local shopkeeper shared, “We are resorting to bonfires to keep ourselves warm, and this cold spell is expected to continue till February. Due to the dense fog, customers are not visiting my shop.”

Tuesday witnessed a similar situation as thick fog blanketed the national capital and significant parts of North India, causing disruptions in flight and train services. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported very dense fog in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Northwest Rajasthan, and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Flight operations at the Delhi airport were also hampered on Tuesday morning due to the persistent fog, further compounding the challenges faced by travelers.