Cong leadership has always made sacrifices for country: Tewari

October 24, 2013
Tewari
Chandigarh, Oct 24: With Rahul Gandhi accusing BJP of instigating politics of anger and hate for political gains, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Wednesday night said the Congress Vice-President had spoken the truth.

“Entire Congress leadership has always made sacrifices for the country’s unity and integrity… Congress leaders and workers have been fighting the divisive forces and the forcs of terror and the anti-India forces,” the Ludhiana MP said on the sidelines of a function organised by the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana.

Earlier in the day Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of instigating politics of anger and hatred for political gains and went emotional to say that one day he too may be killed like his grandmother and father but he is not “bothered”.

“What Rahul Gandhi has said is the truth. If you look at the history of the BJP, from Mahatma Gandhi’s killing to massacre that took place in Gujarat, people connected with such ideology have remained involved,” he alleged.

“Even many ministers of the Gujarat government are behind the bars on massacre charges (Gujarat riots),” he said.

Tewari went on to say that it is a fact that Congress and its entire leadership have sacrificed their lives to protect the unity and integrity of this country.

He attacked the fundamentalist ideology, in particular RSS’ ideology, saying it is unfortunate to say they have played an important role to “divide and spread hatred in this country.”

Asked about the increased infiltration this year in Jammu and Kashmir, Tewari said, “as far as LoC is concerned, our forces are alert. You have seen in Keran sector how intruders were dealt with.

“There is an attempt by those connected with terror outfits to send infiltrators into India. But earlier too such nefarious designs have been foiled and this time too these will be foiled,” he said.

The Union Minister said that Pakistan and its rulers should seriously think over the policies it has adopted since three decades, now they themselves are facing the consequences.

“Today, in Pakistan, incidents of terror are common and innocents are killed. The main reason is because of the policies Pakistan’s rulers have adopted (over the years). There is a saying ‘when you sow the wind, you reap the whirlwind’.”

Asked if India needs to take a harsh step, he said, “I think we have been taking very firm measures for the last three decades. The fact is that all attempts which have been made by non-state actors supported by the Pakistani establishment to infiltrate into India in any manner to create chaos and disturbances have been foiled.”

“The Government of India was successful in taking up the matter with regard to Pakistan being the epicentre of terrorism and a large number of Pakistani entities including the Jamut-ul-Dawa were labelled as terrorist organisations.

Similarly, we also have been fairly successful in convincing global opinion that the non-state actors who have the support of Pakistani establishment need to be dealt with global cooperation,” he added.

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Cong leadership has always made sacrifices for country: Tewari

Chandigarh, Oct 24: With Rahul Gandhi accusing BJP of instigating politics of anger and hate for political gains, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Wednesday night said the Congress Vice-President had spoken the truth.

“Entire Congress leadership has always made sacrifices for the country’s unity and integrity… Congress leaders and workers have been fighting the divisive forces and the forcs of terror and the anti-India forces,” the Ludhiana MP said on the sidelines of a function organised by the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana.

Earlier in the day Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of instigating politics of anger and hatred for political gains and went emotional to say that one day he too may be killed like his grandmother and father but he is not “bothered”.

“What Rahul Gandhi has said is the truth. If you look at the history of the BJP, from Mahatma Gandhi’s killing to massacre that took place in Gujarat, people connected with such ideology have remained involved,” he alleged.

“Even many ministers of the Gujarat government are behind the bars on massacre charges (Gujarat riots),” he said.

Tewari went on to say that it is a fact that Congress and its entire leadership have sacrificed their lives to protect the unity and integrity of this country.

He attacked the fundamentalist ideology, in particular RSS’ ideology, saying it is unfortunate to say they have played an important role to “divide and spread hatred in this country.”

Asked about the increased infiltration this year in Jammu and Kashmir, Tewari said, “as far as LoC is concerned, our forces are alert. You have seen in Keran sector how intruders were dealt with.

“There is an attempt by those connected with terror outfits to send infiltrators into India. But earlier too such nefarious designs have been foiled and this time too these will be foiled,” he said.

The Union Minister said that Pakistan and its rulers should seriously think over the policies it has adopted since three decades, now they themselves are facing the consequences.

“Today, in Pakistan, incidents of terror are common and innocents are killed. The main reason is because of the policies Pakistan’s rulers have adopted (over the years). There is a saying ‘when you sow the wind, you reap the whirlwind’.”

Asked if India needs to take a harsh step, he said, “I think we have been taking very firm measures for the last three decades. The fact is that all attempts which have been made by non-state actors supported by the Pakistani establishment to infiltrate into India in any manner to create chaos and disturbances have been foiled.”

“The Government of India was successful in taking up the matter with regard to Pakistan being the epicentre of terrorism and a large number of Pakistani entities including the Jamut-ul-Dawa were labelled as terrorist organisations.

Similarly, we also have been fairly successful in convincing global opinion that the non-state actors who have the support of Pakistani establishment need to be dealt with global cooperation,” he added.

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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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