National News
‘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
Kerala declares Liberian ship capsize as a state-specific disaster, CMFRI begins study

Thiruvananthapuram, May 29: The Kerala government on Thursday declared the wreckage of the Liberian ship M/s ELSA 3 in the Arabian Sea 14.6 nautical miles off the Kerala coast as a state-specific disaster.
A statement issued from the office of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the ship, M/s MSC ELSA-3, carrying more than 643 containers, was reported to have capsized on May 25 off the Kerala Coast near Thottappalli in Alappuzha District.
“The maritime incident has raised serious environmental concerns, including the potential for an oil spill and drifting of debris, including cargo, along Kerala’s coastline. Considering the potentially serious environmental, social, and economic impact of the ship wreckage, the Government hereby declare the wreckage of the ship M/s ELSA 3 in the Arabian Sea 14.6 nautical miles off the Kerala coast as a State-Specific disaster,” said the statement.
This fresh development comes at a time when the Kerala government is seriously contemplating legal proceedings against the ship’s owners after fishermen’s associations have demanded appropriate compensation, fearing that the chemicals could cause long-term damage to marine life and jeopardise their livelihoods.
The Vijayan government is awaiting a response from legal experts dealing with marine topics to go forward with legal steps.
On Thursday, the containers that had been cleared from near the coast of Kollam and were being readied for transportation caught fire.
But the fire was quickly doused.
The vessel, which had reported listing approximately 38 nautical miles off the Kochi coast, ultimately sank into the Arabian Sea on Sunday morning.
In a related development, the ICAR- Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) on Thursday launched a study to assess the changes in the marine environment following the shipwreck.
The study is currently being conducted by four different teams on the coastal areas of Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts.
The teams are collecting water, phytoplankton and sediment samples from 10 stations in these districts at regular intervals for the investigation.
According to CMFRI Director Grinson George, the study aims to understand various types of marine pollution associated with the shipwreck.
National News
Centre approves deployment of 581 companies of CAPF for Amarnath Yatra security

Srinagar, May 29: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the deployment of 581 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to Jammu and Kashmir for providing massive security to the Amarnath Yatra 2025 beginning on July 3.
The MHA has approved the deployment to provide security to the pilgrims, official sources said on Thursday.
The decision comes ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s two-day visit to the union territory.
The ministry has authorised the J&K administration and police to utilise 156 CAPF companies already stationed in the region.
“These include 91 CRPF, 30 SSB, 15 CISF, 13 BSF, and 7 ITBP units, each comprising around 75 to 80 personnel.
“MHA will dispatch an additional 425 companies by June 10, which will include 130 BSF, 128 CRPF (including five women’s units), 67 SSB, 55 ITBP, and 45 CISF companies. The forces will be on duty till the conclusion of the yatra on August 9, after which they will be de-inducted.
“A communication regarding the same has been sent to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of J&K on May 23. The MHA had responded to a formal request from the J&K government dated May 20, seeking additional forces to ensure a safe and peaceful pilgrimage season,” sources said.
This year’s Amarnath Yatra begins on July 3 and will end on August 9, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima festivals.
The Amarnath cave shrine is situated 3888 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas. The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon.
Devotees believe that the ice stalagmite structure symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva. They approach the cave shrine either from the traditional longer Pahalgam route in Anantnag district or the shorter Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
National News
Rajasthan govt employee arrested in Jaisalmer on suspicion of spying for Pakistan

Jaipur, May 29: Security agencies have arrested a government employee in Jaisalmer on charges of espionage. The accused, Shakoor Khan, currently employed as a clerk at the Mangalia District Employment Office had recently travelled to Pakistan without obtaining departmental permission.
He was formerly the personal secretary of ex-minister Saleh Mohammad in 2008, during his tenure as the MLA from Pokhran.
According to reports, the authorities discovered several Pakistani phone numbers in his phone which Shakoor Khan couldn’t explain. He also confessed that he had travelled to Pakistan at least seven times in recent years.
Officials revealed that acting on Intelligence inputs, security personnel detained Shakoor Khan from the employment office and began questioning him regarding his visit.
Sources confirmed that Shakoor, a resident of Mangalia Ki Dhani in Baroda village, is being interrogated by the Joint Investigation Committee.
Multiple agencies are collaborating to probe the matter further as Shakoor Khan was found to have phone numbers associated with Pakistan stored on his device, officials said.
The arrest comes amid heightened security across India following ‘Operation Sindoor’, launched in response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people, mostly civilians, were killed.
Given the strategic sensitivity of Jaisalmer due to its proximity to the Indo-Pak border, agencies are closely monitoring all suspicious activities. As of now, no official statement has been released by authorities regarding the case.
The Joint Investigation Committee is questioning Shakoor Khan, who was caught from the employment office on Wednesday night.
Various investigation agencies are working together to get to the bottom of this matter, said officials, adding, “Shakoor is being questioned for travelling to Pakistan without informing the department despite being a government employee.”
“There were inputs about Shakoor Khan that he could be involved in spying for Pakistan. He was on surveillance following inputs and was detained last night,” media reports quoted an official as saying.
A joint interrogation was conducted in Jaisalmer following which the team left for Jaipur with Shakoor Khan.
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