Hans Raj Hans expresses shock over media reports after VHP threat: Says, joke turned serious

[email protected] (CD Network)
February 21, 2014

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Hoshiarpur, Feb 21: Amidst the ongoing debate over the 'reports' about his 'conversion' into Islam during a Pakistan trip, renowned Indian Sufi singer Hans Raj Hans has expressed shock over the 'false reports' that created huge uproar among a particular group.

The singer who returned India via Wahga border today, after his 3 day stay in neighboring country accused the journalists of failing to understand his words.

Joke!

He said a journalist explained a 'joke' in such a manner that hit the news all over the world. If the journalist would have behaved responsibly, the joke would have remained a joke and not globally shocking news.

The singer's fascination for the religion is pretty evident from the fact that he decided to stick to only the Sufi genre of singing, which has its origin in Muslim community, made the journalist to consider the former's jovial statement seriously, sources said.

However, Hans Ran Hans admitted that he is a fan of the sacred places and the Sufis and some music teachers' presence in Pakistan.

He said that he has been visiting Pakistan for a few years now and many people in Pakistani media have friendly relationships with him but none of self-constructed news has been released till yet. “I respect Islam but the news that I have embraced Islam has no truth and this is just a joke turned into news,” he clarified.

"Responding to a media query in Pakistan, I expressed my desire to visit Madinah, the holy city of Muslims. Guru Nanak Dev had also visited Madinah. Every Sikh wants to visit the places that were visited by Guru Nanak,” he said.

VHP threat

The Sufi singer's clarification comes after Vishav Hindu Parishad demanded the Punjab Government to take back the designation of State Singer (Raj Gayak) from Hans Raj Hans in protest against his 'conversion'.

Media Incharge of Punjab Vishav Hindu Parishad, Kamaljit Setia had gone on to claim that Hans Raj Hans has defamed the Hindu religion. He said that either the Sufi singer should seek apology and rejoin Hinduism else he would have to face the anger of Vishav Hindu Parishad.

News Effect

On Thursday the news of Hans Raj Hans accepting Islam was in full swing in the subcontinent. Social networks and social media websites were discussing this issue over and over again.

Sufi Singer

Born into a Sikh peasant family at a village called Shafipur near Jalandhar Hans Raj Hans sings Punjabi folk and Sufi music, has also sung in movies and has also released his own 'Indipop' albums. He has worked alongside other renowned artists such as the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, as seen in the movie Kachche Dhaage.

He is famous for his long golden curly hair and his classical variations in singing. He has been singing folk songs for many years but recently sang a number of Gurbani shabads and dharmic geets (religious songs).

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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News Network
December 7,2025

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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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News Network
December 3,2025

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Mangaluru, Dec 3: A group of Congress workers gathered at the Mangaluru International Airport on Wednesday to welcome AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, but the reception quickly turned into a display of support for Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

Venugopal arrived in the city to participate in the centenary commemoration of the historic dialogue between Mahatma Gandhi and Narayana Guru. The event, organised by the Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, in association with the Mangalore University Sri Narayana Guru Study Chair, is being held on the university’s Konaje campus.

KPCC general secretary Mithun Rai and several party workers had assembled at the airport to receive Venugopal. However, the moment he stepped out, workers began raising slogans backing Shivakumar.

The university programme will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

This show of support comes just a day after Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar would lead the government “when the high command decides.” The chief minister made the comment after a breakfast meeting at Shivakumar’s residence—another public display of camaraderie between the two leaders amid ongoing attempts by the party high command to downplay their leadership rivalry.

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