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Sufi Board Wants Waqf To Be Transferred To Home Department For Protecting Properties Against Encroachments

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Sufi Board Wants Waqf To Be Transferred To Home Department For Protecting Properties Against Encroachments

Mumbai: Even as Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju introduced The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 and proposed sending it to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) after opposition parties objected to its provision, one major group representing Sufi Muslims has supported the bill.

Mansoor Khan, National President of the Sufi Islamic Board, said they had sent recommendations to the Government of India, including the idea that the Waqf Act should be removed from the jurisdiction of the Minority Ministry and brought under the Home Ministry.

“This is because the Minority Ministry neither prevents encroachments nor takes any action against them as it lacks the necessary powers. My recommendation was that if the Home Ministry or any other ministry with prosecution powers takes it under its wing, we can get rid of the illegal encroachments on Waqf properties that have been there for 70 years,” said Khan

Khan said that the law did not concern just Muslims but members of other religious groups as the Islamic concept defined by Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, emphasises the rights of neighbors. “He taught us to take care of one’s neighbors. If we look at it this way, these properties intended for public welfare should be used for the benefit of all humanity.” Sufi is a sect of Islam that incorporates worship at tombs of saints, singing, and rituals. They claim to form a majority of the population.

According to Khan, if the Home Ministry or the state administration takes charge of Waqf properties, the police and District Collector can take action against encroachments, ensuring that the properties are not illegally occupied in the future.

The amended bill provides for a recomposition of the Central Waqf Council and the state Waqf boards to ensure the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in such bodies. The bill also proposes the establishment of a separate board for Shia subjects like Bohras and Agakhanis. Currently, only the mainstream Shia community has Waqf boards in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Significantly, the bill omits section 40 which relates to the powers of the Waqf board to decide if a property is Waqf. There have been allegations that land and properties have been arbitrarily declared Waqf.

Members of the opposition have criticised the provisions in the bill. AIMIM Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi said, “This Bill has been brought on the basis of the government’s hatred for the Muslim community and to reward those who have encroached upon Waqf properties. To say that it has been sent to JPC is fine, but it is no such success.”

However, the Sufi Islamic Board said they will not oppose the bill. “As we mentioned, it is being done for Muslim welfare. Tell us one thing that the Waqf Board has achieved for Muslims in the past 70 years. The BJP is a political party, just like Congress, and everyone has their own opinion. What does voting for the BJP or any other party matter in this?” asked Khan.

Maharashtra

Nilesh Rane advised his brother Nitesh Rane to refrain from controversial statement

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Mumbai: Everything between the BJP and Shinde Sena in Mumbai Maharashtra is not good. The Cold War has started in BJP leader and minister Nitesh Rane and Nilesh Rane. Nitesh Rane made a controversial statement in the rally in Usmanabad, after which the debate began on whom, whose father, Nilesh Rane advised his brother Nitesh Rane to refrain from a controversial statement, and then Nitesh responded to him while commenting. After that, Nilesh Rane had deleted X’s post deleted. Now Nitesh Rane has appealed to the X -Dharma to be closed on a friendly principle. Nitesh Rane has said on the X that dear Nilesh ji you advised Mahayati Dharma Plan a few days ago, but it is not right to threaten your friend’s ally party workers right now, you are part of Mahayati, so it is important to take special care, now it is interesting to respond to this message. Rane has also shared a message on X in which the BJP worker has been threatened, and this message of social media has now led to a cold war in Rane Brother.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai local train passengers barred from travelling with bags

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Mumbai: Ban on passengers standing at the door with bags in Mumbai local trains Now, standing with bags has been banned in Mumbai local trains because earlier there was a collision between the passengers of Pacific Express and local trains in Mumbra and Diva and the accident happened due to the bag. 4 passengers died in this. Now, passengers standing at the door with bags has been banned. Additional railway forces have been deployed on the main railway platform to monitor this. Railways has taken this step to protect passengers from accidents in trains. Railway Police and Railways have also taken steps to control the crowd and crowd. Usually there is a crowd in the evening and morning, so orders have also been issued for special monitoring at railway stations. The railway administration has now decided to run trains with automatic doors. In this, the doors will remain closed and passengers will not be able to hang out. For this, a special design will be prepared and implemented.

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Maharashtra

Juhu Hookah Parlour Bust: 45 People, Including 5 Young Women, Booked

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Mumbai, June 2025 – In a major crackdown, Mumbai Crime Branch officials raided an illegal hookah parlour in Juhu late last night, detaining a total of 45 people—including five young women—and registering cases under multiple legal provisions.

Discovery and Arrests

At around 1 a.m., Mumbai Police’s Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) raided the rooftop lounge, where patrons were being served hookah. Officers found that at least 30 customers were partaking in tobacco-laced hookah smoking. The establishment was operating without any valid licence, in clear violation of city regulations instituted after the tragic 2017 Kamala Mills blaze.

A total of 45 individuals were taken into custody—comprising staff, management, and patrons. Among them, five were young women in their early twenties, all of whom now face charges. The CIU also seized hookah paraphernalia including pipes, charcoal, tobacco mixtures, and multiple flavouring agents.

Legal Action

The accused have been booked under:

  • Various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC),
  • The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA),
  • The Disaster Management Act, which enforced the hookah ban post the Kamala Mills fire.

Officials emphasized that hookah parlours have been strictly proscribed within Mumbai’s municipal limits following the rooftop fire disaster in 2017, which claimed 14 lives.

Safety Concerns

Authorities expressed alarm over the use of charcoal heaters and enclosed space setups—both serious fire hazards. The rooftop venue lacked any proper fire safety certifications or equipment, prompting fears of repeat incidents. City regulations firmly prohibit unauthorized structures atop buildings, particularly due to their vulnerability to rapid fire spread .

Wider Context

Since the Kamala Mills tragedy, Mumbai Police have consistently targeted illegal hookah dens. Multiple establishments have been raided in Andheri, Bandra, and other suburbs since 2021. Notably, a similar rooftop operation in Andheri in February 2021 resulted in 42 people being booked under the same statutes.

What’s Next?

All 45 detainees have been charged and are undergoing legal proceedings. Investigators are examining the hookah lounge’s ownership chain, regulatory breaches, and whether its patrons posed broader public health or safety risks. Officials also plan to study fire safety compliance more rigorously to prevent any repeat of past tragedies.

Why It Matters

  • Public Safety: Enclosed hookah parlours, especially without proper fire measures, are high-risk zones.
  • Legal Enforcement: Despite bans, illicit hookah operations persist, highlighting gaps in oversight.
  • Policy Reminder: The Kamala Mills fire remains a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in Mumbai’s nightlife spots.
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