Belagavi: Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar has called the recent death of a second division clerk (SDC) at the Belagavi tahsildar’s office as unfortunate, but refuted allegations of having links to the incident.

The SDC, 35-year-old Rudranna Yadavannavar, had allegedly hanged himself to death in the tahsildar’s chamber, where his body was found on Tuesday morning.

Hebbalkar, who spoke to reporters in Belagavi on Wednesday, said that the alleged suicide of the SDC is being linked to her but she had no information on the incident beyond what had appeared on media platforms. She added that there were also video clips stressing on her ignorance about the matter.

The matter should be probed closely to reveal the truth and also to ensure that the bereaved family of Yadavannavar gets justice, the minister said.

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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.