A man poured petrol on his sister-in-law and set her on fire over a family grudge in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam district. The woman, identified as Nirmala, died of severe burn injuries.

The woman’s husband, Prakash, had died by suicide six months ago. Prakash’s elder brother, Suresh, had blamed his sister-in-law for allegedly driving his younger brother to death by suicide.

Since her husband’s death, Nirmala had been living with her two children in her in-laws’ home. Her brother-in-law, however, held a grudge against her as he blamed her for his younger brother’s death, the local police said.

On Saturday, Suresh assaulted the woman and dragged her out of the house, poured petrol on her and set her on fire. She died on the spot, the police said.

“We got a call from Suresh saying ‘we have set your sister on fire’. He used to blame my sister for her husband’s death. They have been threatening to kill her,” Nirmala’s brother told reporters.

“I was going to bring her home today when they called us to say they have killed her,” he said.

The police said they have arrested Suresh.

A video of DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran, which party sources claim is old, can spell trouble for the unity of INDIA bloc at a time when it is gearing up for the big Lok Sabha contest just a few months away.

In a video, the authenticity of which NDTV cannot verify, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran is heard comparing the job prospects of those who have studied only Hindi with those who know English. In this context, he says those who study only Hindi in Bihar “build houses” and “clean toilets” in Tamil Nadu.

“Only because they (people here) studied English, today they earn fat salaries in IT companies. They say ‘Hindi Hindi’. You know well who build buildings. Those who study only Hindi in Bihar build houses for us in Tamil Nadu, sweep roads and clean toilets,” Mr Maran was heard saying in the video that has now gone viral.

I.N.D.I Alliance leader and DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran says Hindi speakers from UP and Bihar come and clean toilets in TN.
Rahul Gandhi and Nitish Kumar must clarify, if this is the stated position of the Congress and JDU too.
I.N.D.I Alliance’s divisive agenda is out in full force… pic.twitter.com/i4wwLbYisW

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 24, 2023

While Mr Maran could not be reached, sources from the DMK have claimed it was an old video that has been recirculated by the BJP. The DMK sources said the BJP has recirculated the video to divert attention from the backlash Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman faces amid her face-off with the Tamil Nadu government over its demand for flood relief funds. 

Hindi imposition is an emotive issue in Tamil Nadu and the DMK has been at the forefront of agitations against alleged attempts to impose Hindi in the southern state.

The video of Mr Maran, meanwhile, has sparked a political row, drawing criticism from leaders of both the BJP and INDIA ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar.

Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav condemned the remarks. “This is condemnable. Leaders from other states, irrespective of which party they belong to, should avoid making such remarks. This country is one. We respect people from other states and we expect the same. Such remarks should not be made,” he told the media.

The DMK leader’s viral video drew fire from Union Minister and Bihar leader Giriraj Singh. Mr Singh used the opportunity to launch a scathing attack on the DMK as well as its ally Congress. “The language of Congress and DMK is a language to break the country. People from Bihar, wherever they go, work hard, and it is not a crime to work with self-respect. They contribute to that state’s development,” he said.

The firebrand BJP leader accused DMK of insulting the country and referred to party leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s comments on Sanatan Dharma that had sparked a huge row. “They have done this earlier. They spoke about finishing Sanatan, now they are targeting labourers. This is unfortunate. and Rahul Gandhi derives enjoyment from such remarks,” he said.

BJP leader Amit Malviya shared the video, saying Rahul Gandhi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should clarify if the DMK leader’s remarks are in line with their parties’ position. 

Earlier, INDIA parties influential in the northern part of the country were caught on a sticky wicket by Mr Stalin’s Sanatana Dharma remarks. The fresh controversy comes at a time when the Opposition bloc is racing against time to iron out internal conflicts and regional rivalries and gear up for the big fight against a formidable BJP.

Haryana MLA Abhay Singh Chautala today responded to controversial BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s “dabdaba” remark soon after the Centre suspended the activities of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

“Jab Hariyane wale khunta dal dete hain to acche acche dabdabe ud jate hain (When people from Haryana intervene, dominance of many are blown away),” the INLD leader said, implying that Olympic bronze medallist Sakshee Malikkh’s post on a recent move in WFI had prompted the Centre’s intervention.

जब हरियाणे आले खूँटा डाल देते हैं तो अच्छे अच्छे ‘दबदबे’ उखड़ जाते हैं।#WrestlingFederation

— Abhay Singh Chautala (@AbhaySChautala) December 24, 2023

Controversial BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who had to step aside as WFI chief following sexual harassment allegations, had welcomed the election of his close aide Sanjay Singh to the wrestling body’s top post. The six-time BJP MP had said his “dabdaba (dominance)” will continue, indicating his stranglehold on the federation.

The election of the BJP MP’s aide and his remarks thereafter drew strong reactions from top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshee Malikkh, who had led the agitation against him. Ms Malikkh announced her decision to quit the sport and placed her boots on a table during a media interaction. The visuals sparked outrage, with Opposition leaders accusing the centre of shielding the BJP MP.

A day after the election results, Ms Malikkh, who is from Haryana, said in a post on X that while she had quit wrestling, she was worried about women wrestlers who will participate in junior national contests being held at Gonda in Uttar Pradesh. She said the area is a stronghold of the BJP MP. Now imagine what kind of atmosphere the junior women wrestlers will be competing in,” she said in a post on X.

Earlier today, the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports asked WFI to suspend its activities and rapped it for the “hasty” announcement of the junior nationals. The ministry noted that the newly elected body “appears to be (in) complete control of former office bearers in complete disregard to the Sports Code”.

Soon after, INLD leader and MLA put out his response to the BJP MP’s “dabdaba” claim, with the hashtag “WrestlingFederation”.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has, meanwhile, claimed that he has retired from wrestling and has distanced himself from activities of the federation, which he led for 12 years. He has said he is busy preparing for Lok Sabha elections due next year.