Congress has done nothing for Muslims, says Minority Affairs Minister Heptulla

September 12, 2014

New Delhi, Sep 12: Union Minister for Minority Affairs Najma Heptulla on Thursday hit out at the Congress, saying its secular image was a farce meant to entrap the minority community.

Congress in the last 65 years has done nothing except to push the Muslims away from the path of growth. But it calls itself secular. Even when this secular government was in power, the riots didn't stop, they kept on increasing," Heptulla alleged.

She was addressing a gathering here organised by the BJP to frame a development agenda for the minority community ahead of the coming elections in Maharashtra.

The former BJP vice president claimed that had she been with the Congress, she would have been made the President of India by now.

"I left the Congress when it had just won elections against (the NDA led by) Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I was the deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha. Had I continued with Congress, I would have been made the President of India. But in the process, I would have lost my peace of mind. so I chose to leave the party," she said.

"I was born in a Congress family. But I gave up when I realised that this is not the same Congress that fought for India's independence. The Congress today is in the business of giving big talks of development of the Muslims. But fails to deliver on the promises," she said.

Heptulla, a five-time member of the Rajya Sabha, said she was shocked when a Congress leader said that "25,000 Muslims would be killed" if a BJP-led government came to power at the Centre.

"I was shocked at those comments. The Sachar committee report was a slap on the face of the Manmohan Singh government," she said.

"It (Congress) only knows the art of showing a lollipop of reservations to the Muslims. But the Constitution prohibits this. If it is so sympathetic towards the Muslims why did it make such a Constitution? Is it not a mockery of the Constitution?" she asked.

She also alleged that Maharashtra Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan turned a blind eye to irregularities in the implementation of Maulana Azad national fellowship for minority students' scheme.

"I have written so many letters to the CM asking him to look into this, he never bothered to even reply." Referring to the controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's refusal to wear a Muslim cap (when he was Gujarat Chief Minister), Heptulla said she was happy that Modi didn't wear the cap.

"The condition of Muslims is very bad today. It was good that he didn't wear a topi like other leaders do. This only means that Muslims won't be betrayed by him the way other political leaders did," Heptulla said.

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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Flight cancellations strand passengers overnight at Mangaluru Airport

News Network

December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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