Respect vehicles of god to show true devotion: Maneka Gandhi

Dharmasthala, November 24: Former union minister Maneka Gandhi said that all the Hindu gods and goddess have animals and birds depicted as their vehicle. We can express real devotion only when we show concern towards the animals and birds.

Speaking at the Lakshadeepotsava and 79th 'Sarva Dharma Sammelan' held at Sri Kshethra Dharmasthala on Wednesday, she said that people worship the gods with great deal of devotion but they fail to show even a bit of respect to the animals and birds depicted as vehicles to the gods.

“These animals and birds are ill-treated and even made to death without any sanctity attached it them,” she lamented.

“We revere Lord Krishna but the peacocks, vehicle of Lord Karthikeya are killed and peacock feathers are sold in market. We respect goddess Durga but at the same time we hunt Tigers to earn money selling its pelt,” she said.

ISRO former chairman Dr G Madhavan Nair said inspite of development in science and technology, the religious discourses are helpful for the welfare.

“I have spent my life in the field of science. I am not a follower of any one particular religion. I have understood earth, galaxy through science. Still there is a power which was responsible for Big Bang. We human beings have understood only five per cent of the world around us. The complexity of the universe makes us believe that God created the world,” Nair said.

“We start believing the God when special and weird happenings take place in life. Luck works out in life,” he said citing an example of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

“There was no technical fault in GSLV. However, luck was not our side. It failed. There was cyclone in Arabian sea when we were about to launch satellite from Sriharikota. Seeing this many of our scientists broke 100 coconuts and prayed to God. Later, we realised that the cyclone had changed its path. It may be accidental or the handwork of the God,” he said.

“All the religions propagate peace. There is a need to develop respect towards other religion for the well-being of the society,” he added.

Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade was present. Bagalakote's Dr Bala Saheba Lokapura, Bijapur's Basheer Ahammed Umri and Prof Judith Pinto of Mangalore delivered lectures on the occasion. Maneka Gandhi and Madhavan Nair were felicitated on the occasion.

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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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