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Political earthquake again in Maharashtra?

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Mumbai: -(Yusuf Rana) Looking at the turmoil going on in the politics of Maharashtra, it can be said that the game of winning and losing is going on in the political chessboard. After the rebellion in NCP, a faction of Congress is also preparing to join BJP. Activities are going on in Mumbai and Delhi regarding this. If this group comes together, then there is talk of giving them three ministerial posts. Due to which cabinet expansion and division of departments may be affected. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis have been called to Delhi immediately. According to sources, the issue of expansion of the state cabinet and allocation of portfolios to ministers, which has been going on since last week, has finally been resolved in Delhi. Last evening, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and NCP leader Praful Patel held talks with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi for about an hour. It is being said that both the problems of cabinet expansion and division of departments have been resolved in this meeting. The formula of 4, 4, 2 has been fixed for the post of minister in Maharashtra. According to which the cabinet will be expanded. Interestingly, in the absence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel have settled the dispute. Let us tell you that no result came out after the discussion between Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar at Chief Minister’s residence Varsha Bangla for three consecutive days and three nights regarding cabinet expansion. On one hand, Eknath Shinde’s group was against giving the post of Finance Minister to Ajit Pawar. The controversy regarding the Ministry of Cooperative and Rural Development is not reducing. According to reports, during the meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel also discussed cabinet expansion, allocation of portfolios and other issues. According to the 4, 4, 2 formula, BJP and Eknath Shinde faction will get four ministerial posts each. While NCP will get two ministerial posts. That is, 10 ministers will take oath in the future cabinet expansion. Both these parties already have 10 ministers each in the cabinet. In this context, the number of ministers from both the parties will be 14. While NCP will have only 9 ministers in the cabinet. If he gets two more ministries, the number will increase to 11. After the meeting in Delhi, Praful Patel said that the conflict between the three parties of Maharashtra government is almost over. , That’s why the cabinet can be expanded today or tomorrow. Explain that the expansion will happen after the monsoon meeting, while the distribution of portfolios is expected today or tomorrow. However, now all the claimant MLAs are eyeing the cabinet expansion. In the new expansion, the ministerial posts with all the three parties will be reduced. Especially according to the 4, 4, 2 formula, Ajit Pawar’s NCP will get only two ministerial posts. This has increased resentment among NCP MLAs. NCP members are currently looking dejected as they have gone with BJP for power. However, now he does not seem to be getting a share in power. Due to this, three MLAs of Ajit Pawar group Azmani Rao Kokate, Atul Banke and Kiran Lahmte have expressed their displeasure over not getting ministerial posts. Significantly, not even two weeks have passed since the split in the NCP and anger has erupted. The upheaval that started in the Ajit Pawar faction has ended. In such a situation, it will be a big challenge for Ajit Pawar to convince these MLAs. On the other hand, the Shinde faction has opposed giving higher portfolios of ministries to the NCP. The Shinde faction has become aggressive on this issue. The Shinde MLA has taken a stand that he will not bow down to the NCP. This has increased the headache of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The difficulty before Shinde is whether he should listen to Delhi or his MLAs.

A group of 10 independent MLAs on Thursday decided to give up their bid for ministerial berths with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, claiming that they are upset with the current political developments in the state, according to sources. Independent candidates led by Prahar Janshakti Party chief and former minister Om Prakash B alias Bachchu Kadu said they are discouraged by the ongoing demand for cabinet posts, especially with the Nationalist Congress Party led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar joining the government. . After the meeting of Independent MLAs with the Chief Minister on Monday, his group will take a final decision on the matter.

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After passage from Parliament, Waqf Bill awaits President’s nod: Details here

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New Delhi, April 4: The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed by Rajya Sabha in the wee hours of Friday after a marathon debate, involving heated exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches. The Upper House debated the bill for nearly 14 hours and then cleared it with 128 votes in favour and 95 against.

The legislation was earlier cleared by the Lok Sabha after nearly 12 hours debate, with 288 votes in favour and 232 against.

With this, both the Houses have cleared the decks for amendments in the Waqf Bill of 1995 and repealing the Mussalman Wakf Act of 1923.

The next course of action is the Presidential assent for the bill, following which it will turn into a law.

The Bill will be sent to President Droupadi Murmu soon and her approval will pave the way for amending the 1995 laws, governing Waqf properties.

According to a leading portal, the government is expecting a smaller window for the approval, unlike the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The NDA government, which is projecting the Waqf Amendment Bill as one of key milestone decision in first year of Modi 3.0 is expected to notify it for implementation, soon after getting President’s nod.

Interestingly, one of the major highlights of Rajya Sabha voting last night, was Biju Janata Dal (BJD)’s stand on the contentious bill.

As per the numbers of NDA and INDIA bloc, the bill was expected to sail through in Rajya Sabha but with a lower margin as compared to Lok Sabha. NDA was expected to get support of 123 MPs but ended up securing 128 votes in favour while INDIA bloc ended at 95 (as against expected figure of 98).

Hours before the voting, Naveen Patknaik-led BJD opened the gates for “conscience vote’, telling its 7 MPs that they would not be bound by a whip and could vote for whichever side they wanted.

Some BJD MPs cross-voted in favour of NDA, there bettering its tally than earlier expected. A total of 119 votes was needed for the bill to get through but BJP’s efficient floor management helped it secure 128 votes.

Meanwhile, Congress has stated that it will challenge the constitutionality of the Waqf legislation in the Supreme Court.

“The INC will very soon be challenging in the Supreme Court the constitutionality of the Wakf (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” he wrote in a post on X.

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Congress MP Imran Masood calls for banning liquor during Navratri

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Saharanpur, March 29: Congress lawmaker Imran Masood said on Saturday that not just meat shops, liquor establishments should be shut during the nine-day festival of Navratri and called for embracing and promoting the spirit of brotherhood and communal harmony.

“Everybody is demanding a ban on meat shops during Navratri. Why is no one asking for a ban on liquor shops? Why is there no outpouring on the free flow of liquor during Navratri? Will this not spoil the purity and sanctity of the festival?” Saharanpur MP said in a special interaction with media.

The Congress Parliamentarian said that peaceful celebration supersedes everything, and it is incumbent upon all communities to maintain decorum during festivities and also make certain sacrifices, be it Eid or Navratri.

Notably, Eid-ul-Fitr and Navratri are coinciding on the same day this year. Both festivals are set to fall on Monday, with little possibility of change in the Eid schedule on account of moon sighting.

Days ago, the Congress MP also extended support to the demands of a meat ban during Navratri celebrations. In an apparent message to the Muslim community, he said that nothing would change if one did not eat meat for ten days.

“What matters above everything is the peaceful co-existence of communities. At no point in time, the differences over food preferences lead to communal strife,” Masood told newspersons.

Congress MP, when asked questions on the party’s strategy for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, said that the Opposition is fully prepared to take on the Centre on “partisan legislation”.

“We opposed the amendments in the JPC meeting, tooth and nail. We will strongly voice our dissent in Parliament too,” he said.

Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that the Waqf Bill will not be delayed any further and will be reintroduced in the ongoing session of Parliament.

Only four working days of the Budget Session are left, as it concludes on April 4.

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‘PM Narendra Modi Relies On Crutches Of Nitish Kumar And Chandrababu Naidu To Pass Waqf Bill”: AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi

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Hyderabad: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi spoke on the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 and said that the BJP does not have a majority in the Lok Sabha, and if Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar oppose it, it won’t be passed.

While speaking to media, Asaduddin Owaisi said that PM Narendra Modi is relying on the crutches of Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar. He stated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is spreading lies in the country regarding the Waqf Bill.

“Amit Shah is the Home Minister of the Government of India and his statement is proof of the fact that you trying to make an unconstitutional law which can be challenged in the court. This is a violation of the articles of the Constitution and the Waqf of the entire country will suffer because of it. You are removing the section of the Waqf property, who will benefit from it. You are omitting the revenue of lakhs of rupees. Amit Shah is lying to the country that you can challenge the Waqf Tribunal in the court. Prime Minister Narendra Modi relies on the crutches of Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu and if they do not support this unconstitutional bill, then this law will not be made”, Asaduddin Owaisi said.

Earlier on Friday, Owaisi supported the ‘black band’ protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. Owaisi, who is also part of the JPC on the Waqf bill, joined in the symbolic protest on Friday by wearing a black armband as he offered prayers.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that Waqf Amendment Bill, on which JPC has given its report, will be tabled in the Budget session of Parliament. The Budget session is slated to conclude on April 4.

“Nobody needs to get afraid of the Waqf Bill. In 2013, the Congress-led government passed the Waqf Bill and made several provisions that are not aligned with our Constitution. We are now trying to align the bill with constitutional principles,” he said.

Asked about Asaduddin Owaisi’s black arm band protest, Amit Shah said people have a right to do so. “Some do it through their clothes, some through their words. In Parliament, one opposes through logic,” he said.

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