Vice President Dhankhar expresses concern over influencing faith through charity
Mandya (Karnataka), Oct 25: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said that the structured use of charity to influence the faith of the beneficiary has serious consequences in a democracy.
According to him, assistance to the needy, marginalised, and vulnerable should be without any strings attached.
"Charity, assistance, or such handholding needs to be with no strings attached. Our civilisational ethos tells us never speak of charity. Charity is never to be claimed. You do it, and you forget about it," Dhankhar said.
He was addressing students at Adichunchanagiri University in BG Nagara in Mandya.
Former Prime Minister H D Devegowda, Jagadguru Nirmalanandanatha Mahaswami and Swami Parmatmananda Saraswati were among those who were present on the occasion.
"Charity putting freedom of faith in captivity is a cause of concern. When you influence the faith of the needy, the marginalised, the vulnerable, things become really very critical," Dhankhar opined.
He added that such actions could have serious consequences on the spirit of nationalism and constitutional values.
The VP hailed Adichunchanagiri Shikshana Trust saying that with 26 Shakha Maths across the world and over 500 educational institutions under it including schools for the blind, deaf, and dumb, this institution’s service to the marginalised is exemplary and it indeed is a befitting response to critics of Sanatana Dharma.
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Govt launches Haj Suvidha App 2.0 for ease of pilgrims
New Delhi, Nov 23: The Minority Affairs Ministry on Saturday launched the Haj Suvidha App 2.0 with the new version introducing key features such as air travel details, a navigation system with Mina maps, and medical history and health advisories for Indian pilgrims going on Haj.
The application was launched by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju after he inaugurated the Conference of Chairpersons of State and UT Haj Committees in the presence of Minister of State for Minority Affairs, George Kurian and Chairman of the Haj Committee of India Abdullahkutti, among others.
In his address, Rijiju noted that the Haj pilgrimage is the largest logistical operation undertaken annually by the government of India beyond its borders.
He emphasised that Haj has long been a cornerstone of the strong bilateral relationship between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Rijiju highlighted several significant reforms aimed at improving the pilgrimage experience, including the removal of the discretionary quota, the integration of technology through the Haj Suvidha App, and the provision of facilities for female pilgrims without Mehram.
Kurian spoke about the new measures being implemented for Haj 2025, designed to enhance the comfort and convenience of the Indian pilgrims.
Among the key initiatives, he mentioned the procurement of modern buildings with lifts not only in Aziziya but also in nearby areas close to the Haram.
Additionally, the latest model buses will be introduced for travel between Makkah, Madinah, and within the Mashaer region.
The conference, organised by the Haj Committee of India under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, also marked the launch of the Haj Suvidha App 2.0 by Rijiju.
Building on the success of the Haj Suvidha App 1.0 in 2024, the new version introduces key features such as the selection process, boarding pass and air travel details, a navigation system with Mina maps, and medical history and health advisories for Indian pilgrims.
The conference included discussions on stakeholder feedback, suggestions and preparations.
