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Another death at Vijay's rally sparks row, Stalin's big poll sop for Tamil Nadu women

A 37-year-old man named Suraj from Maharashtra died during a Tamilar Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) rally led by actor-turned-politician Vijay in Salem, Tamil Nadu, sparking a political row. Medical reports suggest dehydration and cardiac arrest as the cause of death. Police officials allege overcrowding, stating 8,000 people attended despite a 5,000-person limit. This incident follows a previous stampede in Karur that claimed 41 lives, prompting AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathiyan to criticise TVK for inadequate crowd management and medical facilities.

Simultaneously, a political debate has intensified regarding Chief Minister MK Stalin's announcement of a ₹5,000 payout to women beneficiaries. The AIADMK labels the move a 'summer dole' triggered by the rising influence of Vijay’s TVK, while DMK MP Dr. Kanimozhi Somu defends the 'Urimai Thogai' as an entitlement for women's livelihoods. TVK spokesperson Thenmozhi Prasanna questioned the state's economic progress under Dravidian rule as analysts raise concerns over Tamil Nadu's mounting debt and the safety of supporters at large-scale political gatherings.

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Video: PM Modi hugs, touches feet of 98-year-old BJP veteran in Bengal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hugged and honoured 98-year-old Makhanlal Sarkar, one of the earliest and senior most members of the BJP. The scene unfolded on the stage ahead of Suvendu Adhikari's swearing-in as West Bengal's Chief Minister in Kolkata. PM Modi also touched Sarkar's feet and presented a shawl to him as a mark of respect. In 1952, Sarkar was arrested in Kashmir while he was accompanying Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee as the latter was marching to hoist the tricolour there. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya described the elderly party leader as "one of the earliest grassroots figures associated with the nationalist movement in post-Independence India."

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