Months after the death of a Thrissur native at the Russia-Ukraine war zone, another Keralite has succumbed to injuries. Binil Babu, 31, a native of Kuttanellur in Thrissur district is the deceased. His relative Jain Kurian suffered injuries in the attack that reportedly happened last week. 

The Indian Embassy on Monday confirmed the death to Binil’s wife Joicy. Binil, 31, is survived by Joicy and a 5-month-old baby. 

Binil’s brother-in-law Saneesh told TNM that the family had been trying all means to bring him back. “Binil and Jain were concerned. We are not sure when this attack happened. Jain has undergone a surgery and is out of danger. He is unable to speak yet,” Saneesh said. 

A few months ago, Binil and Jain had recorded a video from the warzone, seeking help to return to India. The duo was part of the group of Keralites who went to Russia in search of a job in April. Most of them were hired to work as support staff of the Russian Army, but were eventually forced to work in the war zone. 

In August, the Indian Embassy had confirmed the death of Thrissur native Sumesh Chandran in a drone attack. Following this, Binil and Jain had sought help to return as they were assigned to work at the conflict zone by the Russian Army. Some Keralites managed to return home with the support of the Embassy by the end of 2024. 

On January 7, the relatives received information regarding the attack. However, the family was unable to contact them. 

As per the information given at Rajya Sabha in August 2024, eight Indians recruited by the Russian Army were killed in the war. 

Ajith Kolassery, CEO of NORKA ROOTS, state-run agency which handles overseas recruitment, said that they haven't received any official confirmation regarding the death, though unofficial reports came a few days ago. He said that accurate data over the number of people returned or still stuck at the warzone too is unavailable as the migration happened through illegal routes.

AICC general secretary for Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, dismissed rumours of a leadership change in the state on Monday, January 13, and said that no internal discussions regarding a change in the Chief Minister's position had taken place. He also accused the BJP of fabricating narratives to discredit the government.

Speaking to the media before the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting, he said, “The Congress is united, and Siddaramaiah is the Chief Minister. Whenever a decision is made, it will be announced by the top leadership – Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Sonia Gandhi – at the appropriate time. Such discussions have not taken place within the Congress. This is why the BJP is wasting time with fabricated stories, intending to undermine Congress’ guarantees. They are not merely targeting the Congress government but are, in fact, attacking the people of Karnataka. However, the BJP can never defeat the people of Karnataka.”

Surjewala is visiting Karnataka to participate in Congress meetings aimed at preparing for the 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan' convention. Scheduled for January 21 in Belagavi, this significant event organised by the AICC will mark the centenary of the 1924 Indian National Congress session led by Mahatma Gandhi.

His statements follow Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's remarks denying any vacancy for his position, despite persistent media reports suggesting a possible shift in leadership.

"There is no confusion among us. The media repeatedly reports that the CM will be changed, even though the chair is not vacant. Yet, such claims continue to be made. It is speculated and reported as a political discussion if we meet over food. Sometimes, even dialogues are fabricated about what we might have discussed, based purely on speculation," Siddaramaiah said on Jan 12.

Following Siddaramaiah’s recent dinner with select Dalit and ST cabinet colleagues, speculation is rife within the Congress about a possible change of guard in the state after the March budget, under a "rotational chief minister" or "power-sharing" formula.

The issue has created ripples within the Congress, with contrasting signals from party leaders. Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar’s cabinet colleague KN Rajanna, considered close to Siddaramaiah, suggested that Shivakumar focus on leading the party to victory in the next elections rather than vying for the Chief Minister’s post during the current government’s term. 

In response to this, Shivakumar stated on Saturday, January 11, that he is not seeking anyone’s support and operates in line with the Congress party’s directives. Shivakumar’s comments come amid growing buzz about a possible leadership change in Karnataka, with speculation centred on a "rotational chief minister" or "power-sharing" formula. 

Rumours suggest that Shivakumar might take over after Siddaramaiah presents the state budget in March 2025. However, Shivakumar, also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, distanced himself from such discussions, urging his supporters and party members not to lobby on his behalf.

"As per the Sanskrit saying 'Karmanye Vaadikaarasthe...', I put in the effort and leave the results to God. I don't want anyone's support, and I will do what the party wants me to do," Shivakumar said while speaking to the media in Sringeri on January 11. When asked about factions of party workers rallying for him to become the next CM, Shivakumar said, "I do not want anyone's support. I don't want any MLA to shout out his support for me. It is between the Congress party and me. I will do whatever the party wants me to do. I am just doing my duty."

Meanwhile, consecutive dinner meetings were planned by Congress ministers Satish Jarkiholi and G Parameshwara, which were viewed as efforts to counter Shivakumar’s influence within the party. However, Parameshwara’s dinner meeting was cancelled after Surjewala intervened allegedly following complaints from Shivakumar’s camp.

Jarkiholi downplayed the significance of his meeting, describing it as a routine gathering. Shivakumar also dismissed any political undertones, calling the meeting a New Year’s dinner. However, the timing of the events, especially with Shivakumar on a private trip abroad during Jarkiholi’s dinner, fuelled speculation about factional dynamics within the Congress.

The leadership issue has lingered since the Assembly elections in May 2023, when intense competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the Chief Minister’s post ended with Shivakumar taking the Deputy Chief Minister role. Reports at the time suggested a compromise under a rotational chief minister formula, which could see Shivakumar assuming the top position after two and a half years. However, the Congress leadership has yet to confirm this arrangement.

Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj S Horatti has said that the CID inquiry into BJP MLC CT Ravi’s alleged derogatory remarks against Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar might create friction between the legislature and the executive. 

In a letter to Home Minister G Parameshwara dated January 10, Horatti said that as the Chairperson, he had the “sovereign power” inside the House and that his decision was final. 

He said, “The chairperson, being a constitutional post, has the sovereign power over the parliamentary system and process, and the House has the power to punish its members for disorderly conduct or other abuses in the House while it is in session."

Horatti said that he had taken a decision after going through the Constitution, the rules of procedure and conduct of the Karnataka Legislative Council, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, MN Kaul and SL Shakhder's Practice and Procedure of Parliament, and Subhash Kashyap's Parliamentary Procedures. 

CT Ravi had allegedly used a derogatory word against Laxmi on the last day of the winter session of the legislature, December 19. She had filed a complaint with the Chairperson of the Council, Basavaraj Horatti, who said that the complaint was closed as the incident had occurred after the Council session had concluded and that the microphones were off. 

Ravi was arrested later that night and was granted bail by the Karnataka High Court. He has since alleged that the arrest was a conspiracy to kill him.

The state government handed over the inquiry to the CID on December 24.

A group of ten fishermen from Thoothoor village in the state has been allegedly arrested by the British Navy near Diego Garcia Island in the central Indian Ocean. Officials from the Tamil Nadu fisheries department told IANS that the British Navy detained the fishermen while they were fishing for tuna during the early morning hours of Monday, January 13.

The fishermen were reportedly arrested for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). Sources from the fisheries department revealed that the same boat used by the fishermen had previously been seized on two separate occasions for allegedly crossing international borders.

The Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department has already informed the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, about the incident. It may be recalled that eight fishermen from Rameswaram and Thangachimadam in Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy early on January 12.

Two mechanised boats were also impounded by Sri Lankan naval authorities. According to the Sri Lankan Navy, the arrests were made for allegedly crossing the IMBL and poaching near the Neduntheevu islet during the early hours of Sunday.

The fisheries department officials stated that they had issued tokens to 169 mechanised boats from Rameswaram jetty on Saturday morning. These boats were scheduled to return to shore on Sunday evening.

Sources further added that the arrested fishermen were taken to a naval port in Sri Lanka, where they are being questioned.

The impounded mechanised boats are also being towed to the port. The two impounded boats belong to Mukesh Kumar of Rameswaram and Maria Retrisan of Thangachimadam, with registration numbers IND TN 10 MM 879 and IND TN 10 MM 159, respectively.

Leaders of fishermen’s associations across coastal Tamil Nadu have condemned the midnight arrests.

Antony John, a leader from Rameswaram, told IANS that repeated pleas from fishermen’s associations to the Union government regarding such incidents have not resulted in redressal.

Expressing concern, he stated that it is no longer safe for fishermen to operate in the Palk Bay.

“We have not only lost our livelihoods but also our properties to Sri Lankan authorities. Around 270 trawlers have been impounded since 2018. Many fishermen have lost their jobs and are burdened by debts they cannot repay,” he said.

He did surprise us with his brave fight against Modi and his associates, and the INDIA bloc came very near the target earlier this year, but then it didn’t. Our polity continues to suffer. Yes, we’re talking about Rahul Gandhi.

In Uttar Pradesh, he performed a near miracle in the 2009 general elections when the Congress won as many as 21 seats, contesting alone. But it has been a steep decline since then – the party won a pitiful two seats in 2022 Assembly elections, but managed six in alliance with the Samajwadi Party in the recent Lok Sabha polls.

In Gujarat, thanks to his relentless campaign, the party came within striking distance of power in 2017, bagging as many as 77 seats in the 182-member house. In 2022, the tally was a meager 17.

Yet again, after the stellar show in the recent Lok Sabha polls, the party seems to be slumping remorselessly, with the INDIA bloc unravelling fast.

Though the alliance scraped through in Jharkhand, the Maharashtra poll results left everyone stunned. And now in Delhi the Congress seems to be fighting a losing battle.

Not a day passes without a barb or two from some Congress leader or other against the AAP and Arvind Kejriwal. There was even a suggestion that the Congress should ask its supporters to vote for the BJP to teach Kejriwal a lesson and thus prevent him from seeking to challenge the Congress anywhere else in the country.

Even in the no-show UP and where stakes for secularism are higher than ever before and where Akhilesh Yadav is a lot more accommodative than other allies, some glibly talk of going it alone in the 2027 Assembly elections and ‘building’ the party.

The ‘shadow Prime Minister’ aura is fading, and it will most likely be Modi 4.0, never mind whether he is divine or otherwise.

What is happening? Are we as cussed as the American electorate?

Well, the expanded cow-belt syndrome explains much of it, still the blame should devolve largely on Rahul Gandhi, who now effectively controls the GOP. Whether UP or Gujarat, he seems to content himself with photo-ops after some laudable electoral performance, leaving the party machinery to fend for itself. 

The INDIA bloc was a heaven-sent opportunity; perhaps it was Rahul’s own brainchild. Though he did commit an egregious blunder by alienating Nitish Kumar, the result was still satisfactory. He should have gone on to consolidate further, but he seems to have left it all to the clique that is calling the shots in the party.

Rajiv Gandhi too was as much a novice as his son when he was initiated, but the times were different. Even if he could not smash the hold of the power-brokers on the party as he had sworn to in Bombay, it didn’t seem to matter much as it was much bigger and stronger then.

Unfortunately, his children don’t have that luxury, and so by allowing themselves to be willing prisoners of all kinds of dalals, they have only squandered many a precious opportunity to revive the party.

Why should they have opted for Wayanad in 2019, reducing a strongly secular party’s strength in the Lok Sabha, even if by one? Surely the DMK would have accommodated Rahul in a safe seat. Again in the recent Lok Sabha polls, fervent pleas were made to the Congress high command not to field him, but in vain. And once won, they had to hold on to Wayanad, thanks to some tortuous political logic.

Even if the Congress does come to power in Kerala in the next Assembly election, how does it help in the larger battle?

So also in Maharashtra they could have projected Uddhav Thackeray as the Chief Ministerial face and perhaps carried more conviction with the voters. Even if it didn’t, at the very least, the alliance would have remained intact.

To the Congress should go the credit of secularising the Shiv Sena in a way, but all the gains of those years could evaporate now.

In Delhi, the AAP, warts and all, is still a better option for the people and so it would have made greater sense not to take on Kejriwal but enable him to return to power. Now it looks like he will, no thanks to the Congress. Worse, other allies are rooting for him, leaving the bloc in tatters.

Those like Sandeep Dikshit, who is always griping about having to support the man who had upstaged his dear mom, is never reined in. 

As happened in Madhya Pradesh where Kamal Nath was allowed to run his own fiefdom, never giving an inch to Jyotiraditya Scindia, virtually pushing him to join hands with the BJP, thus losing a Congress majority government for good in a vital Hindi state. In the last Assembly elections, Kamal Nath was again given a free hand and he arrogantly turned down pleas for alliance from parties like the Samajwadi Party. Net result, the Congress stands badly mauled there.

Beyond a point Rahul Gandhi doesn’t seem inclined to ask the overweening second rank leaders to behave.

Priyanka seems no different either, though she might be a bit more feisty than her brother. In any case, the dark shadow of her husband would always haunt her. 

Thus while the siblings don’t seem too keen to assert themselves against the regional satraps, Sonia herself seems more comfortable with the manipulative netas.

In a situation where the Congress has become progressively weak and is dependent on whoever is willing to support it for their own reasons, the old power equations cannot hold at all and accommodation is a dire need. But none who matters in the party seems to care or they have psyched themselves into believing they cannot do much anyway.

Without the clan adhesive, the Congress might not remain a viable all-India entity at all, and without it in the arena, the communal hordes will ruin whatever is still left of the India of Gandhi and Nehru. So what is to be done?

An American commentator, despairing over the Trump phenomenon, cited The Talmud as saying that “(we) are not obligated to complete the work, neither are we free to abandon it.” So keep fighting with all your might. That should be the message for the secular liberals in India as well.

TN Gopalan is a senior journalist based in Chennai. Views expressed are the author’s own.

The Chennai airport cancelled the arrival of three Indigo flights from Delhi and Bengaluru on the morning of Monday, January 13 due to poor visibility caused by smoke from the burning of old clothes and tyres during the Pongal festival. 

In addition to these cancellations, the airport has modified the schedules for the arrival and departure of 30 flights as a precautionary measure.

The affected flights include those to and from destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat, Kuwait, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Andaman, Goa, Pune, and Kolkata.

The burning of old clothes and other items as part of Pongal celebrations has enveloped Chennai, including the airport, in a thick blanket of smoke, significantly reducing visibility.

Airport officials noted that this has made flight operations difficult and potentially dangerous. Passengers were informed about the changes in flight schedules via phone messages.

Officials are closely monitoring the situation and have prepared to divert incoming flights to alternative airports if the smog intensifies.

It may be noted that every year, the Chennai airport faces disruptions during the Pongal festival. In 2018, 118 flights, including 73 departures and 45 arrivals, were affected due to smoke. However, the number of disruptions has gradually decreased over the years. In 2024, only 51 flights (27 arrivals and 24 departures) were impacted. This year, airlines anticipated poor visibility on the morning of Pongal and rescheduled early morning flights.

International carriers, including Oman Air, Etihad, and AirAsia, have made adjustments. AirAsia, which operates flights between Chennai and Kuala Lumpur, has rescheduled its flights for three days until January 15. The flight from Kuala Lumpur, originally scheduled to land in Chennai at 7:25 am, will now arrive at 9:35 a.m. Similarly, the departure time has been shifted from 8:05 a.m. to 10:15 am on these days. An AirAsia spokesperson said the changes were made to ensure safe landing in smog conditions.

Airport authorities stated that flight disruptions due to smog are a recurring issue, despite efforts to raise awareness among communities near the airport about not burning waste.

Over the years, the problem has reduced significantly due to measures implemented by civic authorities and police. However, officials noted that only a limited number of pilots are trained to operate under visibility conditions of less than 400 meters, which contributes to the need for flight cancellations and rescheduling.

The air quality in Chennai took a significant hit on Monday morning as smoke blanketed the city. The dense smoke caused visibility issues for motorists and made breathing difficult for residents.

Mild rain since midnight has helped reduce air pollution slightly, but the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) warned that pollution levels are likely to rise in the coming hours. The TNPCB is monitoring ambient air quality in 15 locations across Chennai for 24 hours on the day of Bhogi and the days before and after the festival.

Independent MLA representing Nilambur, PV Anvar, who recently joined the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), has resigned. Anvar, who had parted ways with the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) with whose support he contested the Assembly polls, submitted his resignation letter to the Kerala Legislative Assembly Speaker on Monday, January 13.

On January 11, Anvar in a Facebook post, had announced that he has joined as the state coordinator of the AITC, led by Mamata Banerjee.  The decision to quit as legislator was taken as he would have faced disqualification. 

Under the Anti-Defection Law, independent MLAs have to give up their seat if they join a political party after being elected. The Tenth Schedule, known as the Anti-Defection Act, included in the Constitution via the 52nd Amendment of 1985, brought independent MLAs under the ambit.

Anvar, who had a fallout with the CPI(M) after he made serious allegations against Additional Director General of Police MR Ajit Kumar and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s political secretary P Sasi, had unsuccessfully tried to join Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). He later announced the formation of a political outfit called the Democratic Movement of Kerala. 

Recently Anvar was arrested for vandalising the Divisional Forest Office (North) in Nilambur, which happened during a protest after a tribal youth died after being attacked by a wild elephant. On January 6, he was released on bail and said that he is ready to cooperate with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated several key projects in collaboration with gas distribution company AG & P Pratham-Think Gas at a programme in Tirupati on Sunday, January 12. The projects are in line with the government’s promotion of green energy.

A CNG vehicle rally was held to increase public awareness of the advantages of compressed natural gas (PNG). Additionally, the supply of domestic and industrial PNG in Tirupati commenced. CM Naidu also laid the cornerstone for an LCNG station in Nellore and a City Gas Distribution (CGD) Skill Development Centre at Gajulamandyam.

Speaking about the Krishna-Godavari basin, which supplies 40% of India's natural gas production, Chandrababu said, “By 2047, the state government hopes to create 7.5 lakh employment and draw Rs 10 lakh crore in investments under its Green Energy Policy. The programs are designed to increase the availability of compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped natural gas (PNG) in Tirupati, Chittoor, and Nellore districts.

“With the ongoing collaboration with Japan, we aim to lead the transition to a net-zero economy,” the CM said. He also handed over CNG-powered Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) to the Municipal Commissioner of Tirupati for solid waste collection.

MD and CEO of AG&P Pratham-Think Gas, Abhilesh Gupta, noted that over 700 km of pipelines have already been laid, serving over 23,000 households and 50 industrial customers. With future investments exceeding Rs 10,000 crore, AG&P Pratham-Think Gas plans to generate significant employment while continuing to contribute to environmental sustainability, he said.

In a shocking incident from Malappuram, Kerala, a 38-year-old woman with intellectual disability was allegedly raped by over eight men, including neighbors and distant family members. The case came to light after the survivor’s brother filed a police complaint. Despite the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) on January 4, the accused remain at large, and the survivor’s family alleges they have been receiving threats to withdraw the complaint.

The accused are booked under sections 376(2)(n) (commits rape repeatedly on the same woman) 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal code. Kondotty DySP KC Sethu is investigating the case.

According to reports, the first incident occurred in 2023 when the primary accused, along with another individual, took the woman on a trip to Manjeri. During this trip, she was allegedly assaulted at a lodge in Areekode. Two months later, the same accused took her to a lodge in Mananthavady, Wayanad, where she was reportedly assaulted again. The survivor was then allegedly handed over to other individuals, leading to further exploitation.

The complaint also states that the accused stole 15 sovereigns of gold from the survivor.

The Areekode police registered a case after the survivor’s brother reported the incidents. Speaking to the media, the brother alleged that the accused took advantage of the woman’s mental vulnerability. The family fears there could be more individuals involved in the case and have urged authorities to take swift action.