As cold wave grips North India schools declare extended holidays amid harsh weather
New Delhi: Severe cold and harsh weather conditions have gripped North India, prompting several states to extend school holidays to ensure student safety. Dense fog and light rain in Delhi-NCR on Thursday and Friday caused transportation disruptions, with 29 trains and several flights delayed. The cold wave has also intensified, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 17°C, further impacting visibility and mobility. Authorities across the region are prioritizing student safety as the cold wave continues to disrupt daily life, with visibility and travel challenges compounding the impact.
Lucknow:The District Magistrate, Surya Pal Gangwar, extended school holidays for classes up to 8 until January 16. Schools above class 8 have been instructed to operate from 10 am to 3 pm, ensuring students are not exposed to the cold during early morning hours.
Ghaziabad: In Ghaziabad, District Magistrate Indra Vikram Singh ordered the closure of schools for students of classes 1-8 across CBSE, ICSE, and UP boards until January 18. However, school staff will continue to report to work.
Patna: Patna's district magistrate has announced a shutdown of all educational activities, including Anganwadi centers and pre-schools, up to class 8 until January 15. For classes above 8, teaching hours have been rescheduled to run from 9 am to 3:30 pm.
Jammu and Kashmir: In Jammu and Kashmir, schools for classes up to 12 will remain closed until February 28, 2025. The announcement was made by Sakina Itoo, Minister of School Education, via social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
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Surjewala slams Pratap Simha’s ‘vile’ remarks on CM Siddaramaiah, demands apology from BJP
Bengaluru (PTI): Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over alleged disparaging remarks made by former Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during an assembly bypoll campaign in Bagalkote.
Simha made the remarks while campaigning for BJP candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath, triggering a political row ahead of the by-elections scheduled for April 9.
Congress has fielded Umesh Meti, son of former MLA late M Y Meti, whose death necessitated the bye-election.
"Pratap Simha's vile remarks about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot have exposed the BJP's despicable politics once again," Surjewala said in a social media post.
Alleging a larger political design, he added, "It is increasingly evident that Pratap Simha’s outburst is driven by desperation," and accused the BJP of using such remarks to target backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and minorities.
The Rajya Sabha member further claimed that the incident reflects a pattern within the party. "This is not one man's madness—it is the BJP’s political culture," he said, adding that the remarks were aimed at "denigrating leaders from marginalised communities".
Referring to past incidents, Surjewala said, "CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar have received death threats in the past, including one from BJP leaders who warned that their bodies would be stuffed into a refrigerator."
The Congress leader also criticised the BJP’s bypoll campaign strategy, alleging "internal contradictions".
He pointed to the party’s use of expelled MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in campaigning despite earlier disciplinary action against him, accusing the BJP of resorting to "abuses and indignities" against opposition leaders.
Surjewala demanded immediate action from the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, state president B Y Vijayendra, and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.
He said they must tender a public apology to Kannadigas, particularly to OBCs, SCs, and minorities, over the remarks, and urged the party to expel Simha if it does not repudiate his statements.
Surjewala also called for legal action, demanding that an FIR be registered against Simha and that strict measures be taken.
Warning of "political consequences", he said the electorate in the bypoll-bound constituencies would respond decisively if the BJP failed to apologise, asserting that voters would "teach the BJP a befitting lesson" in the elections.
There has been no immediate reaction from the saffron party yet.
