National News
Congress propels to emerge key challenger in Telangana

The Congress, which appeared to be trailing in Telangana at the third position a couple of months ago with the morale of party cadres at its lowest, now seems to have catapulted to be the key challenger to ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).
The victory of Congress in neighbouring Karnataka and subsequent developments clearly indicate that the grand-old-party is pumped up to project itself as the alternative to Chief Minister KCR-led BRS.
After failing to capture power twice despite claiming credit for carving out Telangana state, the Congress party this time appears more confident.
Political analysts say the win in Karnataka has given the much needed boost to the Congress in Telangana.
In just one shot, it seems to have recovered from the shock of defections by a dozen MLAs soon after the 2018 polls, poor performance in all the Assembly by-elections and the infighting.
The Karnataka victory came at a time when Congress was looking down and out in Telangana due to the emergence of an aggressive BJP, which was projecting itself as the only viable alternative to the BRS.
The success of Congress in attracting a few leaders from the ruling party and the massive public response to the July 2 public meeting of Rahul Gandhi in Khammam are the other indicators of growing importance of the party in the state.
With just 4-5 months left for the polls, the Congress has suddenly emerged as the key challenger in the race for power, pushing BJP to third position.
Realising the importance of winning Telangana, the central leadership is also focusing on the state.
Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun kharge and other top leaders held a key meeting recently to discuss the strategy.
With promises on the lines of five guarantees given in Karnataka, the Congress is looking to further consolidate its position.
As part of this, Rahul Gandhi announced at the Khammam meeting that if voted to power Congress will pay Rs 4,000 monthly pension to widows, senior citizens and other beneficiaries.
This is almost double the pension BRS government is currently giving. That the Congress party is upbeat was evident from Rahul Gandhi’s confident tone at the Khammam meeting titled ‘Telangana Jana Garjana’ (Roar of Telangana people).
With this public meeting, the Congress leader sounded the bugle for the Assembly elections due to be held later this year.
The huge response lifted the spirit of the party cadre in the state and gave it the confidence that it can give BRS a run for its money.
This was the first major show of strength by the Congress in Telangana after its victory in Karnataka elections.
The state Congress leaders claimed that the Congress cadre is rejuvenated, enthused and buoyant after the massive success of the Khammam rally.
Rahul Gandhi boosted the morale of the party by declaring that BJP is longer in the race in Telangana and that the direct fight will be between Congress and BRS. Karnataka will be repeated in Telangana, he thundered.
Political analysts say while the momentum shifted towards Congress after its victory in Telangana, the party has made a good beginning to build on this momentum.
“Congress sees an opportunity in Telangana and it is trying to make full use of this,” said political analyst Palwai Raghavendra Reddy.
The meeting was not only to induct former MP Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy into the Congress but also marked the culmination of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka’s padyatra.
The Congress has shown that despite defeats in 2014 and 2018 polls, defections, poor performance in Assembly by-elections and elections to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the infighting, it remains a strong force in the state.
Unlike BJP whose presence is confined to few districts, Congress still has a strong presence across the state. The grand-old-party got a big boost recently when 35 leaders from BRS, including former Khammam MP Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy and former minister Jupally Krishna Rao decided to join Congress.
The Congress, which was hoping to politically benefit in Telangana by claiming credit for delivering a separate state, had lost the initiative to Telangana Rashtra Samithi (now BRS).
In the 119-member Assembly, the Congress could win 21 seats while TRS formed the first government in the new state.
Of the 7 Lok Sabha seats, Congress could win just two. Defections of some MLAs and resignation of several senior leaders to join TRS had further weakened the party. The slide continued for the Congress in 2018.
Despite an alliance with Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Left and other small parties, Congress could win only 19 Assembly seats while TRS retained power by increasing its tally from 63 to 88.
The Congress could not keep its flock together as a dozen MLAs defected to TRS a few months later. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Congress managed to win three seats.
However, the party’s performance was disastrous in Assembly by-elections during the last four years as it failed to win a single seat.
However, the Karnataka outcome and subsequent developments hint at the reversal of the party’s fortunes in the state.
The Congress leaders claim that the manner in which BRS “distorted” statements of state party chief A. Revanth Reddy over free electricity to farmers show that the ruling party fears defeat in the coming elections.
Alleging that Revanth Reddy opposed free power to farmers, BRS called for a state-wide protest for two days.
The TPCC chief clarified that during his speech at a meeting in the United States, he was highlighting how KCR was misleading people by claiming to provide 24-hour power to farmers.
Hitting back at BRS, the Congress also called for protests at power substations. Its leaders dared BRS to prove that they are supplying round-the-clock power to farmers.
The Congress alleged that BRS is spreading lies by distorting the statement of Revanth Reddy to mislead people.
“It is clear that BRS is scared due to the rising graph of the Congress party in Telangana,” said AICC in charge for Telangana Manikrao Thakare.
“The BRS leaders have realized that ground is slipping under their feet and hence they are spreading these lies,” he said.
Claiming that the Congress stands for the welfare of farmers, he said the party would promise 24-hour free electricity.
Recalling that their leader Rahul Gandhi had released farmers’ declaration in Telangana, he said the Congress would do more for farmers than what BRS claims to be doing.
The Congress is looking to further bolster its campaign by inviting party leader Priyanka Gandhi to hold another big public meeting.
This time the meeting is proposed to be held at Nagarkurnool in undivided Mahabubnagar district.
Former minister Jupally Krishna Rao and several other BRS leaders are likely to join Congress at this public meeting.
National News
Conspiracy to make brother fight brother, foil the nefarious attempt of terrorists: Rahul Gandhi

Srinagar, April 25: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi reached Srinagar on Friday. Here he met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Along with this, Rahul Gandhi also met the injured and victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
Regarding the Pahalgam terror attack, he said that whatever has happened, the idea behind it is to divide the society, there is a conspiracy to make brother fight brother. In such a situation, it is necessary that every Indian unites and foils the nefarious attempt of the terrorists.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, while addressing the media, said that this is a terrible tragedy. I have come here to know the situation and help. All the people of Jammu and Kashmir have condemned this terrible attack and they are with the nation. I have met one of the injured people. My love and affection is with all those who have lost their family members. I want to tell everyone that the whole nation stands with them. A day earlier on Thursday, we had a meeting with the government and the entire opposition condemned this attack.
He further said that along with this, we have given full support to any action taken by the government. The idea behind whatever has happened is to divide the society, there is a conspiracy to make brother fight brother. In such a situation, it is necessary that every Indian unites and thwarts the nefarious attempt of the terrorists. It is sad that some people are attacking our brothers and sisters in Kashmir and the rest of the country. We have to unite and defeat terrorism at this time. We have to stand united and together to fight this despicable act and defeat terrorism forever. I also met the Chief Minister and the Lieutenant Governor. They informed me about the incident. I have assured both of them that I and our party will fully support them.
During this, Rahul Gandhi met Congress leaders, workers and local people in Srinagar. He told the party leaders that the whole country is united against terrorism. We have to stay united, stand firm against hatred and terror.
National News
Waqf Act amended to prevent encroachment of government properties, Centre to SC

New Delhi, Apr 25: The Centre, in an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, said that it brought amendments to the Waqf Act, 1995, to prevent abuse of waqf legislation which resulted in the encroachment of government properties, apart from ensuring that the Waqf Boards in the country are properly administered and function with transparency.
“It is submitted that there have been reported misuse of waqf provisions to encroach private properties and government properties. It is really shocking to know that after the amendment brought in the year 2013, there is a 116 per cent rise in auqaf area,” said the preliminary affidavit filed by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs.
The Centre, in its reply document filed before the top court, said that it was found that most of the Waqf Boards have been functioning in the “most non-transparent manner” and have either not uploaded the details in public domain or have uploaded partial details.
“In an era of transparency, it is absolutely necessary that all details concerning waqf/waqf boards be uploaded in Waqf Asset Management System of India (WAMPSI) portal,” it contended.
The Union government said that under the old regime, due to the absence of adequate safeguards, government properties and even private properties were declared as waqf properties.
“The provisions of Sections 3A, 3B and 3C take care of the said situation which has been prevailing since several decades. It is submitted that there are startling examples whereby the government lands or even the private lands were declared as waqf properties,” it said in the affidavit.
The Union government said that the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, was passed with the objective of modernising the management of waqf properties in India through transparent, efficient and inclusive measures. It argued that the reforms introduced are directed solely at the secular and administrative aspects of waqf institutions – such as property management, record-keeping, and governance structures – without impinging upon any essential religious practices or tenets of the Islamic faith. The affidavit highlighted that despite there being a regime of mandatory registration of all kinds of waqf, including ‘waqf by user’, making registration mandatory, individuals or organisations used to claim private lands and government lands as waqf including under ‘waqf by user’ which not only lead to deprivation of valuable property rights of individual citizens but similarly unauthorised claims over public properties.
“While registration of all kinds of waqfs (including ‘Waqf by user’) has always been mandatory, the legal regime never required the waqf deed as a mandatory condition. In other words, it was mandatory to register ‘Waqf by user’ even in the absence of a waqf deed by giving other details for more than 100 years.”
Referring to the recently introduced Section 36(1A), the Centre said that the 2025 amendment provides that a waqf may now be established only through a valid deed of waqf. It clarified that the amendment to Section 36 has not interfered with the status of existing/registered auqaf by user, and any existing property which has been registered as waqf by user will retain its status.
The Union government said that a proviso has been inserted in Section 3 by the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, making it clear that the mandatory requirement of a ‘waqf deed’ applies prospectively from the date of the 2025 amendment i.e., if any new waqf is created after April 8.
“Waqfs by user registered before the amendment would therefore continue to be treated as waqf in terms of the proviso,” the Centre said.
The preliminary reply document filed by the Union government said that before introducing the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, there has been a detailed executive level and Parliamentary level exercise in order to understand the problems plaguing the previous statutory regime, the consequences, and the appropriate measures that were required to remedy the same.
The Centre contended that the “primary religious right being the right to make a dedication is not interfered with, and neither is the administration of any specific waqf interfered with as the same continues to be vested with the mutawalli as per the purpose behind such waqf”.
The affidavit said that it is a settled position in law that constitutional courts would not stay a statutory provision, either directly or indirectly, and will decide the matter finally, as there is a presumption of constitutionality that applies to laws made by Parliament.
“While the Hon’ble Court would undoubtedly have the power to examine the constitutionality of the law, at the interim stage, the grant of an injunction against the operation of any provision of the law, either directly or indirectly, would be violative of this presumption of constitutionality which is one of the facets of the delicate balance of power between the different branches of the State,” it added.
In the hearing held on April 17, a bench headed by CJI Sanjiv Khanna had granted a week’s time to the Centre and state governments and the Waqf Boards to file their preliminary reply to the petitions challenging the validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
The Bench, also comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Viswanathan, had taken on record the assurance given by the Union government that it would not de-notify provisions related to ‘waqf by user’ or include non-Muslim members in the Waqf Board.
Posting the matter for further hearing on May 5, the CJI Khanna-led Bench clarified that the hearing fixed on the next date will be a preliminary hearing and, if required, interim orders will be passed.
National
Pahalgam terror attack: Muslim community protests wearing black bands; demands strict action

New Delhi, April 25: In a strong and unified expression of grief and condemnation, members of the Muslim community across India observed a solemn protest during Friday prayers, calling for decisive action against terrorism after the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead and many others injured.
Mosques across cities including Hyderabad, Delhi, Bhopal, Varanasi, and Lucknow witnessed a wave of solidarity as Muslim worshippers wore black bands on their arms as a mark of mourning and resistance against terrorism during the Juma Namaz (Friday prayers).
In Hyderabad, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi distributed black bands among worshippers before offering Namaz at a mosque in Shastripuram. He condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the victims’ families.
In the national Capital, AIMIM’s Delhi state president Dr Shoaib Jamai also led a peaceful protest during the Friday prayers.
“What happened in Pahalgam is extremely unfortunate for the country, and curse be upon the terrorists who carried out this heinous act,” Jamaai said, wearing a black band in protest.
In Bhopal, worshippers arrived at local mosques wearing black bands. “We will offer prayers while wearing black bands in protest against the Pahalgam attack,” said a youth from the community.
Another added, “If the government cannot punish a ruthless country like Pakistan, then open the borders, we, Hindus and Muslims together, will teach such a nation a lesson. We don’t even want to utter its name.”
In Varanasi, thousands gathered at the Jama Masjid in Nadesar, where prayers were offered for the souls of those who lost their lives in the attack. Similarly, in Lucknow, protests were held at the Asifi Masjid in the historic Imambara, where worshippers raised slogans against terrorism and Pakistan.
Worshippers across all these cities also prayed for peace and harmony in the country. “We prayed for the souls of those killed in Kashmir and for peace to prevail in our nation,” said one of the attendees.
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