Hegde apologises in LS for his remark against Constitution, says his words were twisted

coastaldigest.com news network
December 28, 2017

Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde on Thursday tendered an apology in the Lok Sabha for his statement on changing the Constitution, even as he maintained that his comments were "put out of context".

Soon after the House met, Hegde, said: "I deeply respect the Constitution, Parliament and Babasaheb Ambedkar. The Constitution is supreme for me, there can be no question on it, as a citizen I can never go against it."

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, however, said that Hegde had spoken against Ambedkar.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan then urged the member to apologize. "Sometimes in life, we feel what we have said is right, but others may still get hurt," she said.

Hegde then extended an apology and said: "My words have been twisted and presented, I never said all this. But if someone was hurt, I apologize to those members."

The Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship at a function in Kukanur in Karnataka on Monday urged people to "claim with pride that they are Muslim, Christian, Lingayat, Brahmin, or a Hindu".

He said: "Those who, without knowing about their parental blood, call themselves secular, they don't have their own identity. They don't know about their parentage, but they are intellectuals.

"Some people say the Constitution says secular and you must accept it. We will respect the Constitution, but the Constitution has changed several times and it will change in the future too. We are here to change the Constitution and we'll change it soon."

The comments led to disruptions in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Wednesday when Parliament met after a four-day-long break.

Comments

shaji
 - 
Thursday, 28 Dec 2017

Hegde is correct.  He did not say that bjp has come to power to change indian constitution.  He actual said that bjp is in the power to respect constitution and respect all the religions.  Media twisted his statement.  Hegde is a silent person as like his Go matha.  He never says anything bad to others.  He loves every one and respects all religions.  He did not provocate the mob in Sirsi and Kumta who damaged private and govt perperty worth crores of rupees.  Actually he was there to stop any voilence.  He is ready to sacrifice his life to maintain peace n the society.  He tried very hard to stop people from burning police car and commiting murderous attack on police.   He even tried his best to stop people from posting rumours in whstasp and media that one Hindu girl was raped by gang of about 10 muslims boys and they even tried to kill her.   He even asked Honnavar people not to make Paresh Mesta death issue a big one as it was planned by insiders only.   Mr. Hegde is a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and he respects Bapuji very much.  He cries on death anniversary of Bapuji and hates the killer Godse.  He never visits Godse Mandir built by sangh parivar.  Hegde is eligible person for next PM or President of India.  He should be awarded with all kinds of awards ie. Padma Chakra/Padma Bhusan/ Padma shri for his noble nature and respect to all the citizens.   He will be remembered by our generations to come.   He will be a hero.   His face itself shows how decent and nice person he is.   He is ready to get slapped on face by any one and will never take revenge.  He is follower of Jesus and will ask anyone who slaps on his right side to slap on left side also.   Really he is a great person.  Media is trying to defame him.   I think whatever media doing against him is political motivated and his enemies are tryig to bring bad name to him. 

Abu Muhammad
 - 
Thursday, 28 Dec 2017

He ate back what he vomited just because of the pressure by Patriotic Indian nationals. It is in their contaminated dirty blood that these anti-national communal Manuvadi Aryan  parivar neither recognize nor respect Indian Secularism, Indian Constitution and Indian Flag.

Shak.
 - 
Thursday, 28 Dec 2017

shame on you Mr. AK Hegde.....

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News Network
December 2,2025

A major upgrade in safety and monitoring is planned for Haj 2026, with every Indian pilgrim set to receive a Haj Suvidha smart wristband linked to the official Haj Suvidha mobile app. The initiative aims to support pilgrims—especially senior citizens—who may struggle with smartphones during the 45-day journey.

What the Smart Wristband Will Do

Officials said the device will come with:
•    Location tracking
•    Pedometer
•    SOS emergency button
•    Qibla compass
•    Prayer timings
•    Basic health monitoring

SP Tiwari, secretary of the UP State Haj Committee, said the goal is to make the pilgrimage safer and more comfortable.

“Most Hajis are elderly and not comfortable with mobile apps,” he said. “The smartwatch will help locate pilgrims who forget their way or cannot communicate their location.”

The wristbands will be monitored by the Consulate General of India in Saudi Arabia, similar to mobile tracking via the Haj Suvidha App.

Free Distribution and Training

•    Smart wristbands will be given free of cost.
•    Training for pilgrims will be conducted between January and February 2026.
•    Sample units will reach state Haj committees soon.
•    Final devices will be distributed as pilgrims begin their journey.

New Rules for Accommodation

Two major decisions have also been finalised for Haj 2026:
1.    Separate rooms for men and women – including married couples. They may stay on the same floor but must occupy different rooms, following stricter Saudi guidelines.
2.    Cooking banned – gas cylinders will not be allowed; all meals will be provided through official catering services arranged by the Haj Committee of India.

These decisions were finalised during a meeting of the Haj Committee of India and state representatives in Mumbai.

Haj Suvidha App Launched Earlier

The government launched the Haj Suvidha App in 2024, offering:

•    Training modules
•    Accommodation and flight details
•    Baggage information
•    SOS and translation tools
•    Grievance redressal

Haj 2026 Quota and Key States

•    India’s total Haj quota for 2026: 1,75,025 pilgrims
•    70% (1,25,000) allotted to the Haj Committee of India
•    30% (around 50,000) reserved for Haj Group Organisers

Uttar Pradesh has the largest allocation (around 30,000 seats), though approximately 18,000 pilgrims are expected to go this year. States with high pilgrim numbers include Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Dates of Haj 2026

The pilgrimage is scheduled to take place from 24 May to 29 May, 2026 (tentative).
Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is mandatory for Muslims who meet the required conditions.

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News Network
December 7,2025

SHRIMP.jpg

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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