Page 8 - Waqf Board

Waqf bill: NDA, India bloc issue whips as Parliament braces for showdown

With battle lines clearly drawn, the Parliament debate is expected to be heated as the incumbent NDA government and the Opposition face off over the implications of the Waqf Amendment Bill

Waqf Bill: LS debate on Apr 2, RS on Apr 3; TDP, JDU issue whip for support

The Lok Sabha will take up the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill for discussion and passage on Wednesday, setting the stage for a showdown between a government determined to push it through and an opposition united in condemning the proposed law as unconstitutional. Rajya Sabha is expected to take it up on Thursday, with the two Houses allocated eight hours each for debating the proposed law. Some BJP allies, sources said, continue to push for more changes in the bill. A senior member of a BJP ally expressed hope that the saffron party will accommodate their views, stressing that some of their concerns were addressed by the Joint Committee of Parliament which scrutinised the bill. However, he emphasised that the NDA will remain united on the issue. TDP and JD(U), the two biggest constituents of the NDA after the BJP, issued whips to their MPs asking them to support the government stand. The opposition INDIA bloc also presented a united face on Wednesday as its parties discussed th

Waqf bill: Congress issues whip to its Lok Sabha MPs for next 3 days

The Congress party issued the three-line whip after the government made it clear that the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill will be taken up in the Lok Sabha

Waqf Amendment Bill sparks row in LS, Opposition walks out over debate time

The Waqf Amendment Bill faces fierce Opposition in Lok Sabha, with leaders clashing over debate time, triggering a walkout amid concerns over its impact on Muslim properties

Waqf (Amendement) Bill to be tabled in Lok Sabha on Wednesday: Kiren Rijiju

The bill will be tabled after the question hour tomorrow for consideration and passing and following which an 8 hour discussion will be held

Waqf Bill takes centrestage during Eid prayers in parts of Karnataka

The issue of the Waqf Amendment Bill took center stage during Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations in some parts of Karnataka on Monday, with people, including Minister Rahim Khan, offering special prayers sporting black armbands to express their protest against the Centre's move. According to the information available, believers sported symbols of protest during the prayers held in Bidar, Mandya and Belagavi. In Bidar, Minister Khan, who holds sports and youth empowerment portfolio, reached mosque with his followers wearing black armband and offered prayers at the Eidgah Maidan. His supporters performed prayers and lodged their protest peacefully against Waqf law amendment. The Mandya Urban Development Authority president Naheem performed prayers in Mandya wearing the black armband. All his supporters too followed him. Speaking to reporters, he said he did it as a silent protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill. In Belagavi, Social Democratic Party of India cadres participated in the prayers

Waqf Bill a 'direct assault on Muslims', part of Hindutva agenda: Owaisi

Voicing strong opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday alleged that the Bill is a "direct assault on Muslims" and would strip them of their properties. Addressing a gathering here, he questioned how non-Muslims could become members of the Waqf Board, as proposed by the Bill, when only Hindus and Sikhs can be members of temple and gurdwara boards, respectively. Wearing a black armband in response to a call by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) to protest against the Bill, Owaisi said, "(Prime Minister) Narendra Modi is firing bullets at our chest through the Waqf Billtargeting our mosques and dargahs." According to the provisions of the Bill, the district collector can certify that a particular property is not a Waqf property, thereby causing Muslims to lose their claim over it, he alleged. "You (Centre) intend to take away the properties of Muslims. This is part of the Hindutva agenda to prevent us from following our Shariat

Will uplift poor Muslims financially, protect Waqf Board properties: Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday called Ramadan a month of discipline, charity and reflection at an Iftar party hosted by the state government in Vijayawada. The chief minister joined Muslims in their prayers and reaffirmed his commitment to uplifting poor Muslims and protecting Wakf Board properties in the state. "We established Urdu universities in Hyderabad and Kurnool, and a Haj House in Kadapa. Between 2014 and 2019, we provided Dulhan' assistance to 32,722 minority brides at Rs 163 crore," said the chief minister at the Iftar party. The NDA coalition government is working to uplift poor Muslim families while ensuring the protection of Wakf Board properties as TDP has always supported the Muslim community, said Naidu. The TDP supremo said that the party shares a strong bond with Muslims as it extended several benefits in united Andhra Pradesh while NTR (NT Rama Rao) established a finance corporation and made Urdu the second official language, ...

Putin to visit India, Waqf Bill, Trump's auto tariffs, South Korea wildfire & more

Russia today confirmed that President Putin will visit India soon, following an invitation from PM Modi during his visit to Moscow last year.

Will badly affect Muslims: TN Assembly passes resolution against Waqf Bill

The Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024 sought to change the composition of the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards to include non-Muslim members.

Protests against Waqf Amendment Bill understandable: J-K CM Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill across the country are understandable as only a particular religion is being "targeted". "Charitable activities are linked to all religions and Muslims carry out these through Waqf. When a particular religion is targeted, there will be tension," he told reporters outside the assembly. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Sunday announced a nationwide agitation against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, with large sit-ins planned in front of the state assemblies in Patna and Vijayawada on March 26 and 29, respectively, as part of the first phase of the protest. Parliament's joint committee has submitted its report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. Though not listed yet, there is speculation that the proposed legislation could be brought for passage in Parliament during the ongoing Budget session. The 31-member panel on the Bill, after multiple sittings and hearings,

AIMPLB announces nationwide protests against amendment of Waqf Bill

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Sunday announced a nationwide agitation against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, with large sit-ins planned in front of the state assemblies in Patna and Vijayawada on March 26 and 29, respectively, as part of the first phase of the protest. AIMPLB spokesperson SQR Ilyas said leaders from JD(U), RJD, Congress and Lok Janshakti Party, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, have been invited in Patna. In Andhra Pradesh, he said, invitations have been sent to the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP), YSR Congress, Congress and Left parties. Ilyas expressed gratitude on behalf of the board to all Muslim organisations, civil society groups and leaders from Dalit, Adivasi, OBC and other minority communities. "Without the grace of Allah and the united support of these groups, the success of the Delhi demonstration would not have been possible," he said. He also extended thanks to the opposition parties and members of Parliament who not only

Waqf Bill assault on Constitution, BJP damaging social harmony: Congress

The Congress Sunday termed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill an "assault" on the Constitution and alleged the proposed legislation was part of the BJP's "continuing attempts to damage" the centuries-old bonds of social harmony. It is also part of the BJP's attempts to "demonise minority communities" by spreading propaganda and creating prejudices, the opposition party alleged. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is "deeply flawed". "The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is part of the BJP's strategy and continuing attempts to damage the centuries-old bonds of social harmony in our uniquely multi-religious society," he said in a statement. It is part of the BJP's strategy and continuing attempts "to demonise minority communities by spreading false propaganda and creating prejudices", Ramesh claimed. He alleged that the bill is aimed at diluting Constitutional provisions that guarantee equal rights and protection to all citizens,

Budget session resumes today. Key bills in focus

Parliament’s Budget session resumes today, with key bills and heated debates expected. Watch the video for a rundown of the important bills up for discussion.

Budget session set for 'EPIC' showdown; Budget, Waqf bill govt's priority

Parliament's Budget session resumes on Monday amid indications of an 'EPIC' showdown between the government and the opposition which is planning to raise issues such as the alleged manipulation of electoral rolls, the fresh bout of violence in Manipur and India's handling of the Trump administration. The focus of the government will be on getting Parliament nod for the demands for grants, completion of the budgetary process, seeking approval for the Manipur budget and passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill. Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to move a statutory resolution seeking Parliament approval for the proclamation of President's Rule in Manipur. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is also scheduled to table the budget for Manipur on Monday. Manipur has been under President's Rule since February 13 after the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The opposition said it is set to corner the government over the issue of duplicate Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers.

Waqf Bill likely to come up before House during 2nd part of Budget Session

The Waqf bill is likely to come up before Parliament during the second half of the Budget Session after the Union Cabinet approved the amendments proposed by the joint committee of Parliament, sources said. During its meeting on February 19, the Cabinet is learnt to have given its nod to the 14 amendments proposed by the panel examining the Bill, they said. The report of the panel, headed by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, was tabled in Parliament on February 13 amid uproar and a walkout by the opposition parties. The Bill aims to streamline the registration of Waqf properties, besides preventing their misuse. With the Cabinet nod, the Bill is likely to come up before Parliament during the second part of the session -- scheduled to be held from March 10 to April 4. Several top BJP leaders have claimed that the Bill was likely to be passed during this session itself. The 31-member panel on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, after multiple sittings and hearings, had suggested several amendments to

JPC report on Waqf Amendment Bill tabled in Parliament amid Oppn protests

The panel had adopted the report on the draft legislation by a 15-11 majority vote, and submitted it to the Lok Sabha Speaker on January 30

Parts casting aspersions on Parl panel on Waqf bill report removed: Rijiju

Amid opposition uproar over dissent notes being allegedly deleted from the JPC report on the Waqf amendment bill, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said certain portions which amounted to casting aspersions on the panel itself were redacted. Opposition MPs led by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that dissent notes were "redacted" from the report after it was tabled by BJP member Medha Vishram Kulkarni in the Upper House. At a press conference in Parliament House complex, Rijiju said, "If there is something in the note which the chairman feels is tantamount to casting aspersions on the committee itself, he has power to remove it". If the members have any objection, they can appeal before the chairman of the committee, the Parliamentary Affairs minister said. "It is wrong to say that opposition dissent was not included in the report," the minister said, adding all reports are included in the JPC report. "Some of the points which amount to casting ...

Waqf Bill accepted in Rajya Sabha amid strong Opposition protests

During the debate on the report on the amended Waqf Bill, the Opposition said that dissent notes in the report by Opposition MPs were removed and restored to sloganeering

Kharge opposes JPC report on Waqf bill over deletion of dissent notes

The report of the joint committee of Parliament on the Waqf bill was tabled in the Rajya Sabha amid uproar on Thursday, with the proceedings briefly adjourned following a heated debate between the treasury and the opposition benches. Opposition MPs led by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that dissent notes were deleted from the report, a charge denied by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. The report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was tabled by BJP member Medha Vishram Kulkarni, a member of the panel. The tabling of the report was followed by uproar by members from the opposition benches. The clamour continued as Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar tried to read out a message from President Droupadi Murmu. "Don't show disrespect to the president of India..." Dhankhar said and urged Kharge to ask the opposition members to take their seats. As the uproar continued, the Upper House was adjourned till 11:20 am. When the Upper House reconvened, the chairman read out