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Govt-Oppn showdown in RS over ‘deletion’ of dissent notes in Waqf JPC report

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New Delhi, Feb 13: The Joint Parliamentary Committee’s (JPC) report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill formed the basis for a fresh flashpoint between the Treasury and Opposition benches in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, the last day of the first half of the Budget Session.

Chaos broke out in Rajya Sabha, the moment the JPC Waqf report was tabled in the House.

Opposition members created an uproar and engaged in sloganeering against the “high-handedness” of the government, claiming that their dissent notes on the Bill were deleted from the report.

The vociferous protests by the Opposition members also invited the ire of House Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, who initially urged them to maintain decorum and then issued a stern warning for creating chaos while he read out the President’s message.

The JPC report was tabled by BJP member Medha Vishram Kulkarni, a member of the panel.

Notably, the committee submitted its report and observations on the proposed amendments on the Waqf Bill to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on January 30.

Many protesting lawmakers from the Opposition said that the dissent notes by JPC members, apparently the Opposition MPs, were erased and accused the government of “crushing” their views and dissent in an arbitrary fashion.

Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, demanded that the JPC report be taken back unless it includes dissent notes by the Opposition MPs.

He termed the JPC report “anti-constitutional and anti-democratic” and demanded that the dissenting views be included in the JPC report.

“Many members gave their dissent notes. It’s not right to remove these notes and bulldoze our views. This is an anti-democratic move. I condemn this report,” the Congress MP said in the House.

“You have the power to refuse the report,” Kharge also said, making an appeal to the Vice-President.

Kharge’s direct charges, however, were rejected by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju who claimed that there was no truth in the allegations as the dissent notes were attached in the report’s appendix.

“These are false allegations. There is no truth in it. There has been no violation of rule,” Rijiju said, while also asking the Opposition MPs not to mislead the House.

Rijiju’s defence, however, failed to convince the Opposition as they continued shouting slogans while raising concerns about the integrity of the report and also its ability to undermine the Waqf Boards.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also weighed in on the controversy and accused the Opposition of misleading the House. She rebuked the Opposition MPs for creating constant din and derailing the proceedings of the House by creating confusion.

Earlier in the day, BJP MP and JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal told the newsmen that the committee submitted its report after six months of pan-India deliberations with various stakeholders and experts on the subject.

The JPC Chairman had submitted the report to LS Speaker Om Birla himself on January 31. The committee had adopted the draft legislation by 15-11 majority vote.

Even during wide-ranging deliberations of JPC meets, the ruling and Opposition MPs had crossed swords.

BJP members supported amendments, claiming that the impending reforms will bring transparency and accountability in management of Waqf Boards while the Opposition fulminated over the move.

They termed the Bill an attack on the rights of minorities and an unwarranted interference in the functioning of Waqf Boards.

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Two killed, 3,200 houses damaged in floods at Sabang in West Midnapore: Bengal CM

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Two persons have been killed and 3,200 houses have been damaged so far in the devastating flood at Sabang in West Midnapore district of West Bengal, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari told on Thursday.The Chief Minister made an aural review of the flood situation at Sabang in the afternoon and thereafter had an administrative review meeting at the local block development office with the district officials and all the MLAs and Ministers from the district.

Thereafter, CM Adhikari spoke to the media persons and told about the number of human death and houses damaged so far.”Two persons have died so far and 3,200 houses have been damaged. Each affected family whose house had been damaged will be provided with a compensation of Rs 30,000 by the state government,” the Chief Minister said.According to CM Adhikari, besides the compensation for those houses damaged in the flood, the state government will also stand by the farmers whose crops were damaged because of the flood.

“The farmers who are covered under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana will get the opportunity to get compensation. However, the state government will have to work out a strategy for providing compensation for the affected mat-stick makers by any insurance scheme,” the Chief Minister added.He also claimed that during his interaction with the local flood-affected people, many told him that any Chief Minister had physically visited the flood affected areas for the first time after 1986.

“The previous (Trinamool Congress-led state) government did not consider the people of this area as human beings. I have a human connection with them. That is why I came here. My life begins with rural Bengal and will also end with rural Bengal,” the Chief Minister said.He also added that the state administration is also keeping a close watch on the situation in Arambagh in Hooghly district.”Although, there is not any flood-like situation in Arambagh as yet, things might worsen if Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) releases fresh water from their dams. I have asked the Hooghly district administration to remain alert,” the Chief Minister said.

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Tejashwi attacks JD-U leader Sanjay Jha, alleges leaders like him entrapped Nitish Kumar for Rajya Sabha

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Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) National Working President and Bihar Leader of Opposition (LoP) Tejashwi Yadav launched a sharp attack on the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) National Working President and MP Sanjay Jha on Thursday, while leaving Patna for Madhubani.

Responding to Sanjay Jha’s criticism of the Wednesday’s Lok Bhavan march led by the Bihar LoP, Tejashwi said that Jha should first save his own position, alleging that there was considerable opposition to him within the JD-U.

He also accused Sanjay Jha of having entrapped Nitish Kumar and alleged that Jha and others were close to Home Minister Amit Shah.

Tejashwi also targeted the Bihar government over the death of 19-year-old Roshan Yadav in jail in Madhubani.

He claimed that the youth had been forcibly taken away by police and that serious questions had arisen regarding the circumstances of his death.

Tejashwi said he had spoken to Roshan’s family and was travelling to Madhubani to meet them personally.

He said he would also speak with the concerned officials and seek justice for the family.

The RJD leader made allegations regarding the treatment of Roshan, claiming that the youth had been assaulted and subjected to electric shocks while allegedly being kept in police custody.

These allegations are claims made by Tejashwi Yadav and would require investigation and independent verification.

The LoP alleged that Bihar was being transformed into a “police state” under Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and said that the RJD would not allow such a situation to develop.

He also referred to a murder in Hajipur, saying he planned to meet the victim’s family as part of his visit to several locations in the state.

He accused the state government of failing on the law-and-order front and alleged that criminal activity was increasing across Bihar.

Asked about the ongoing student protest at Patna’s Gardanibagh, Tejashwi reiterated his support for the demonstrators, particularly those on hunger strike.

He urged the Bihar government to seriously consider their demands and warned that continued inaction could intensify the students’ agitation.

His remarks came a day after the RJD’s Lok Bhavan march in Patna, during which Tejashwi was detained by police before later being released.

The RJD-led march had focused on student issues, unemployment, examination irregularities and the controversy surrounding alleged AK-47 firing during a student protest in Siwan.

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‘Matter between two nations’: J&K CM Omar Abdullah on US-Pakistan row over Sergio Gor’s remarks

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, commenting on Pakistan summoning the US envoy over US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor’s statement, said on Thursday that the ambassador had made his remarks and the matter was now between the two countries.

Omar Abdullah was reacting to reports that Pakistan had summoned the US envoy over Gor’s statement on Wednesday that Kashmir is an important part of India.

When asked about Pakistan summoning the US envoy over US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor’s remark that Jammu and Kashmir is an important part of India, Omar Abdullah said the matter was between Pakistan and the US.

“Whatever the US ambassador said, he said. Now it is between the two countries,” the CM said.

Hours after Gor’s remarks, Pakistan’s Foreign Office had summoned the US envoy in Islamabad and lodged protest over the remarks.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting Omar Abdullah on Wednesday, Gor said that the US would reconsider its travel advisories on Kashmir, noting that Kashmir is an important part of India.

This was Sergio Gor’s maiden visit to J&K after he took over his assignment as the US ambassador to India.

Earlier, Omar Abdullah had said he would discuss issues with the visiting US ambassador, but would not complain about anything since it was the central government that could address issues in J&K and not the US.

Gor graduated from George Washington University, where he was involved in conservative causes, participating in College Republicans and founding the university’s chapter of Young America’s Foundation.

He was an activist for Arizona senator John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign and worked for the Republican National Committee, later serving as the spokesman for representatives Steve King, Michele Bachmann, and Randy Forbes.

In May 2013, Gor began working for Kentucky senator Rand Paul’s political action committee, RANDPAC, eventually serving as Paul’s spokesman, communications director, and deputy chief of staff.

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