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Irani hits back at Rahul Gandhi for tweet on Jay Shah

Agencies
October 21, 2017

New Delhi, Oct 21: Union minister Smriti Irani today hit back at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for his comments referring to a court barring a news portal from publishing articles on a company owned by Amit Shah's son, saying a person "out on bail" was "mocking" the courts.

The information and broadcasting minister also said the Congress leader's attempts would not help his party win the Gujarat Assembly polls and wished Rahul Gandhi on the occasion of the Gujarati New Year.

"A person out on bail mocks the courts. Lage raho Bhai Gujarat phirbhiharoge (keep trying brother, still you will lose in Gujarat)?? Saal Mubarak (Best wishes for New Year) (sic)," she said in a tweet, referring to the Congress vice president being on bail in the National Herald case.

Earlier, apparently targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, Rahul Gandhi had fired a fresh salvo over the controversy surrounding Amit Shah's son Jay Shah's company.

"Mitron (friends), will not speak about 'Shah-zada', nor will let anyone speak," he had tweeted in Hindi, referring to an interim injunction granted by an Ahmedabad court on a criminal defamation plea filed against news portal 'The Wire' by Jay Shah.

He had also tagged a news report -- "Ahmedabad Court injunction: 'The Wire' barred from writing on Jay Shah" -- along with his tweet.

Jay Shah had recently filed a criminal defamation case against The Wire after it published an article claiming that the turnover of a company run by him saw a huge rise after the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014.

An Ahmedabad court had, on Monday, restrained the portal from publishing or broadcasting reports based on the article published by it regarding Jay Shah's firm.

Both the Congress and Rahul Gandhi have repeatedly questioned Modi's "silence" on the issue.

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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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