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‘Draconian, Fundamental Attack On Constitution’: Opposition Slams Introduction Of Waqf (Amendment) Bill In Lok Sabha

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'Draconian, Fundamental Attack On Constitution’: Opposition Slams Introduction Of Waqf (Amendment) Bill In Lok Sabha

After Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced a bill to amend the law governing Waqf boards on Thursday, the Opposition called the move “draconian and a fundamental attack on the Constitution.”

Congress leader KC Venugopal while speaking in the Parliament alleged that the bill would create religious division between communities. “This bill is a fundamental attack on the Constitution. Through this bill, the government is trying to put in a provision that non-Muslims will also be members of the Waqf governing council.”

Venugopal further slammed the Centre calling the bill a “direct attack on freedom of religion.”  He said, “Now next will be Christians and Jains…Indians will not buy this kind of divisive politics now.”

He alleged that the bill has been introduced in the house in the wake of the Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana.  “We are Hindus, but, we respect every religion. This bill, which has been introduced today, is specialised for the Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly elections…this is an attack on the federal system,” 

However, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said that the central government is not targeting anyone by bringing amendments to the Waqf Board Act and added that the opposition parties want to “only create an atmosphere.” 

“We are not targeting anyone. They (Opposition) want to only create an atmosphere. Our minister will explain in detail when he introduces the bill. They want to misguide some people in the community. They are trying to tarnish the image of India. We are one of the best democracies in the world,” said Pralhad Joshi.

Here is all you need to know about the legislation:

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was introduced on Thursday in the Lok Sabha to amend the Waqf Act, 1995. The bill seeks to “effectively address issues” related to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments. 

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Waqf Act provides for the renaming of the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.

It seeks to clearly define “waqf” as waqf by any person practising Islam for at least five years and having ownership of such property and ensure that the creation of Waqf-alal-aulad does not lead to the denial of inheritance rights to women.

It also seeks to omit the provisions relating to the “waqf by user”, provide the functions of the Survey Commissioner to the Collector or any other officer not below the rank of Deputy Collector duly nominated by the Collector for the survey of waqf properties, provide for a broad-based composition of the Central Waqf Council and the State Waqf Boards and ensure representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims.

It provides for the representation of Shia, Sunni, Bohra, Agakhani and other backward classes among Muslim communities, streamlining the manner of registration of waqfs through a central portal and database and providing for a detailed procedure for mutation as per revenue laws with due notice to all concerned before recording any property as waqf property. 

The bill further seeks to omit section 40 relating to the powers of the Board to decide if a property is waqf property, provide for filing of accounts of waqf by mutawallis to the Board through a central portal for better control over their activities, reform the Tribunal structure with two members and provide for appeals against the orders of the Tribunal to the High Court within a specified period of ninety days.

National News

AAP To Announce New Delhi Chief Minister At 12 PM Today After Arvind Kejriwal Announces To Quit As CM

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The Aam Aadmi Party will announce Delhi’s new Chief Minister at 12:00 PM. The party has stated that the name of the new Chief Minister will be revealed after the meeting of the legislative assembly members at noon. Today, Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is expected to resign from his post, a decision he announced on Sunday. Following Kejriwal’s announcement, speculation has been rife about who will be chosen as the next Chief Minister of Delhi.

According to sources, Kejriwal’s close aide and Delhi government minister Atishi may be entrusted with the responsibility of Chief Minister until the upcoming Delhi Assembly election results are announced.

Apart from Atishi, names like Manish Sisodia, Raghav Chadha, and other AAP leaders are also being considered in the race for the Chief Minister’s post.

Frontrunners In CM Race

Among the leading candidates to potentially replace Kejriwal are Atishi, a prominent AAP minister, along with senior party members such as Saurabh Bhardwaj, Raghav Chadha, Kailash Gahlot, and Sanjay Singh. .

Kejriwal has called for Delhi elections to be held in November, aligning them with Maharashtra’s elections, even though Delhi’s assembly polls are scheduled for February next year. He claims that the public is eager to re-elect him.

The opposition has reacted strongly to Kejriwal’s resignation announcement. The BJP has ridiculed the delay, questioning why he hasn’t resigned immediately, while the Delhi Congress labeled the move a political gimmick, highlighting that Kejriwal didn’t step down during major crises like the recent floods and water shortages in the capital.

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Crime

Andhra Pradesh Govt Suspends Three IPS Officers Over Actress Harassment Case

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The Andhra Pradesh government on Sunday suspended three senior IPS officers following an inquiry into the allegations made by a Mumbai-based actress, Kadambari Jethwani. The state government issued orders suspending P. Sitharama Anjaneyulu, then Director General of Police, Intelligence; Kanthi Rana Tata, the then Commissioner of Police, Vijayawada, and Vishal Gunni, then Deputy Commissioner of Police, Vijayawada.

She and her parents allegedly faced harassment at the hands of police officers at the instance of a leader of YSR Congress, which was then the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh. The suspensions were issued under Rule 3 (1) of the All India Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1969. Sitharama Anjaneyulu has been suspended on allegations of misuse of power and grave misconduct.

He had allegedly instructed the other two officials to arrest the actress, even before a formal crime had been registered. There are allegations that Kanthi Rana Tata arrested the actress based on oral instructions from his superior on January 31, 2024, before the registration of the FIR on February 2.

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Crime

UP: Man Beats Wife To Death In Amroha For Not Meeting Dowry Demands Of TVS Apache Bike & ₹3 Lakh Cash

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Amroha: In a tragic incident from Uttar Pradesh’s Amroha, a young woman named Meena was brutally beaten to death by her husband, Sundar, for not fulfilling his dowry demands. Sundar, a resident of Baikheda village, had been married to Meena for two years and had persistently demanded a TVS Apache bike and Rs 3 lakh as dowry. Despite repeated harassment over the dowry, Meena was unable to meet his demands, a situation she had confided to her father.

Meena had been staying at her father’s home in Soharka since the festival of Rakshabandhan, possibly seeking refuge from the abuse. Sundar continued visiting her daily, often having meals with her family, creating an appearance of normalcy.

Sundar Brought Meena Back Home, Later Killed Her

On Sunday night, he came to bring her back to his house. Once there, Sundar confronted her again about the dowry and, in a violent fit of rage, attacked her with sticks. Unable to force her compliance, he strangled her to death before fleeing the scene.

It was the local residents who first alerted the authorities to the murder. Upon hearing the devastating news, Meena’s family rushed to the police station, demanding immediate action against Sundar. Her father, Vijay Khadak Banshi, later lodged a formal complaint accusing Sundar, along with his mother, sister and four others, of involvement in the crime.

Case Filed, Manhunt Launched To Nab Accused

The police have registered a case based on the family’s complaint and are actively searching for Sundar, who remains at large. Meanwhile, Meena’s body has been sent for a post-mortem examination to aid in the ongoing investigation.

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