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Waqf (Amendment) Bill is weapon aimed at marginalising Muslims: Rahul Gandhi
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday opposed the "Waqf (Amendment) Bill and said that it is a "weapon" aimed at marginalising Muslims and usurping their personal laws and property rights. "The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is a weapon aimed at marginalising Muslims and usurping their personal laws and property rights. This attack on the Constitution by the RSS, BJP and their allies is aimed at Muslims today but sets a precedent to target other communities in the future," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is a weapon aimed at marginalising Muslims and usurping their personal laws and property rights. This attack on the Constitution by the RSS, BJP and their allies is aimed at Muslims today but sets a precedent to target other communities in the future.… — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 2, 2025 He further said, "The Congress party strongly opposes this legislation as it attacks the very idea of India and violates Article 25, the Right to Freedom of Religion." Meanwhile, BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat attacked Rahul Gandhi and said, "I want to remind that if Shyama Prasad Mookherjee was not there, Rahul Gandhi would be standing in a line to seek a permit to start his Yatra in J&K. Never claim that our leaders were not involved in Independence Movement," "I want to remind that if Shyama Prasad Mookherjee was not there, Rahul Gandhi would be standing in a line to seek permit to start his Yatra in J&K. Never claim that our leaders were not involved in Independence Movement," Sehrawat added. Earlier, Congress leader KC Venugopal alleged that the Waqf Amendment Bill "is a dangerous, divisive law which runs against the tenets of our Constitution" Participating in the debate on Waqf (Amendment Bill), 2025 in Lok Sabha, he accused the BJP of resorting to divisive politics. "I expected so many legislations to come during this period. For last several years, farmers have been on the street, they are demanding legal guarantees for MSP. But the Bill is not coming. Youngsters of this country are unemployed and in despair. So, the country expected legislation for drastic change for the youth of the country. But it didn't come...You can see the legislation that has been given priority by this government. This is to have only one agenda - to divide Bharat Mata in the name of religion...," Venugopal said. Moving the bill for passing in the House, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the bill will not be applicable retrospectively and the Centre is not seeking more powers. "When our country has the largest Waqf property in the world, why hasn't it been used for the education, medical treatment, skill development, and income generation of poor Muslims? Why has no progress been made in this regard so far?" Rijiju said. Along with the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Rijiju also moved the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha. The bill was earlier presented in the Lok Sabha in August last year and a Joint Parliamentary Committee, headed by BJP member Jagdambika Pal, examined it. The bill seeks to amend the Act of 1995. The Bill seeks to improve the administration and management of waqf properties in India. It aims to overcome the shortcomings of the previous act and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards, improving the registration process and increasing the role of technology in managing waqf records. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
03 April,2025 08:38 AM IST | New Delhi | ANI
Lok Sabha passes Waqf Amendment Bill after marathon, heated debate
The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 on Thursday after a marathon and heated debate during which members of INDIA bloc fiercely opposed the legislation while BJP and its allies in strongly supported it, saying it will bring transparency and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards. The bill was passed after amendments made by the opposition members were negatived. The House sat beyond midnight to pass the legislation. After a reply to the debate by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Speaker Om Birla announced that the House is taking up item no 12 in the listed business - The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 - for a decision of the House. He said the question is whether the bill should be taken up for consideration and then said the lobbies should be cleared. He later announced the result of division. "Subject to correction, Ayes 288, Noes 232. The majority is in favour of the proposal," he said. Parties in INDIA bloc had decided to oppose the bill and their members voted accordingly. They also pressed for division on some amendments. An amendment was negatived with 231 members voting in favour and 238 against it. The revised bill was brought by the government after incorporating recommendations of the Joint Parliamentary Committee which examined the legislation which was introduced in August last year. In his reply to the debate, Rijiju said slammed the opposition parties for terming Waqf Amendment Bill as "unconstitutional", Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the law relating to Waqf property has been in existence for decades and has not been struck down by courts and such words should not be used lightly. The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024' has also been passed in Lok Sabha. The debate on Lok Sabha that lasted almost 12 hours. Rijiju said that after the bill is passed, the poor in the Muslim community will thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The House sat beyond midnight to pass the bill. "Crores of poor Muslims will thank PM Modi on the bill being passed," he said. Rijiju rejected criticism by opposition members that the Bill was "anti-Muslim" and said some members were just not prepared to accept the truth despite Home Minister Amit Shah nicely elucidating on all issues. "I want to thank all the leaders for keeping their views regarding the Bill... Some leaders are saying that the bill is unconstitutional, and I want to ask them how they could say that the bill is unconstitutional. If it was unconstitutional, why didn't the court strike it down?... words like unconstitutional should not be used...the Bill is not against the Constitution, as the opposition claimed...We should not use the words 'constitutional' and 'unconstitutional' so lightly," he said. Earlier, in his speech, Home Minister Amit Shah said that the opposition is trying to build its vote bank by scaring the minority community. He said the government does not want to interfere in the religious activities of Muslim brothers and the trusts associated with their donations. "No non-Islamic member will get a place in the Waqf Board's work related to religious donations. Work of non-Muslim members, appointed in the Waqf Board or its premises, will not be related to religious activities. A person of any religion can become the Charity Commissioner, he will ensure that the board is run according to charity law, this is the administrative work, not religious," the Home Minister said. "The work of the Waqf Board should be to catch and throw out those who sell Waqf properties. The opposition wants the collusion that was going on in their rule to continue, but this will not happen now," he added. Amit Shah said had the Waqf law not been amended in 2013, there would have been no need to bring this bill. "In 2013, Waqf law was made extreme overnight for appeasement, due to which 123 VVIP properties of Lutyens zone in Delhi were given to Waqf," he said. The Home Minister also spoke of extensive consultations done by the Joint Parliamentary Committee which examined the Waqf Bill. "We formed a joint committee, 38 meetings were held, 113 hours of discussion took place and 284 stakeholders were included and about one crore online suggestions came from all over the country from all these and after analyzing all these, this law was made and it cannot be rejected like this," he said. Participating in the debate, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who headed the JPC, said it is among the most important legislations in the third term of Modi government. The bill was earlier moved for consideration and passing in the House by Rijiju. The bill seeks to amend the Act of 1995. The Bill seeks to improve the administration and management of waqf properties in India. It aims to overcome the shortcomings of the previous act and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards, improving the registration process and increasing the role of technology in managing waqf records. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
03 April,2025 08:36 AM IST | New Delhi | ANI
PM Modi leaves for visits to Thailand, Sri Lanka
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday left for Thailand to attend the sixth BIMSTEC summit, after which he will travel to Sri Lanka for his first visit to the island country since the election of its new president. In a departure statement, Modi described BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) as a significant forum for promoting regional development, connectivity, and economic progress in the Bay of Bengal region over the past decade. He highlighted that India's North Eastern region lies at the heart of BIMSTEC due to its geographical location. 'I look forward to meeting the leaders of the BIMSTEC countries and engaging productively to further strengthen our collaboration with the interests of our people in mind,' he added. During the visit, Modi said he would have the opportunity to engage with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and the Thai leadership, with a shared desire to elevate their long-standing historical ties, which are based on the strong foundations of shared culture, philosophy, and spiritual thought. From Thailand, he will depart for a two-day visit to Sri Lanka on April 4. 'This follows the highly successful visit of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to India last December. We will have the opportunity to review progress made on the joint vision of 'Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future' and provide further guidance to realise our shared objectives,' Modi said. He expressed confidence that these visits would build on the foundations of the past and contribute to strengthening the close relationships for the benefit of the people of these countries and the wider region. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
03 April,2025 08:25 AM IST | New Delhi | PTI
Centre vs Oppn: Contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill tabled in Lok Sabha
Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday tabled the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as proposed by a Joint Parliamentary Committee, in the Lok Sabha for consideration and passage. The Bill seeks to improve the administration of Waqf properties, introduce technology-driven management, address complexities and ensure transparency. Introducing the Bill, Rijiju said the consultation process of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was the largest ever exercise carried out by a parliamentary panel in India’s democratic history. He said over 97.27 lakh petitions, memorandums were received by the JPC through physical and online formats and the JPC had gone through each of them before finalising its report. “The government is not going to interfere in any religious institution. The changes made in the Waqf law by the then UPA government gave it an overriding effect over other statutes, hence the new amendments were required,” Rijiju said amid noisy opposition protest. “You tried to mislead the people on issues which are not part of the Waqf Bill,” Rijiju told the Opposition. This Bill has nothing to do with religion, but deals only with properties, he added. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Bill was tabled after a long process of consultations carried out by the JPC. He said the Bill was first introduced in August 2024 after which, as sought by the House, it was referred to the JPC, which held long consultations on it. Key BJP ally Janata Dal (United) delivered a full-throated endorsement of the Bill and accused opposition parties of trying to set a narrative that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anti-Muslim. Attack on Constitution: Oppn Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said the INDIA bloc will oppose the proposed changes to the Waqf law and called the Bill “an attack on the basic structure of the Constitution” with an aim to dilute its provisions, defame minorities, disenfranchise them and divide the Indian society. “This Bill is an attack on the basic structure of our Constitution, an attack on our federal structure, and has four primary objectives: to dilute the Constitution, to defame minority communities, to divide Indian society, and to disenfranchise minorities,” he alleged. Political parties in Kashmir opposed the amendments, saying it was an interference in religious matters and an attempt to disempower Muslims. Opposition parties have slammed it as “unconstitutional” and against the interest of the Muslim community. “This bill is designed to disempower Muslims. I don’t have any hope with BJP as we have been seeing for the past 10-11 years how Muslims are lynched and mosques demolished... but the Hindu brethren should step forward because this is the nation of Gandhi, it should run as per the constitution,” said PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said his party would not support the amendments as “only one religion is being targeted.” Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the Bill is aimed at polarisation and will send a wrong message to the world denting the country’s secular image. Participating in a debate on the Bill in the Lower House, Yadav alleged that the Bill has been introduced to manage BJP’s “diminishing” vote bank and will prove to be a “waterloo” for the BJP as some members might be claiming to support the bill but inside they are not happy about the development. “BJP wants the Muslim community to feel that their rights are being attacked and the party gets to indulge in polarisation politics because that is their agenda,” he alleged. ‘Black law’, says Muslim body Muslim bodies denounced the Bill and said the amended provisions in it will do more harm than good to Muslims. The AIMPLB said it will challenge the Bill in court and take the fight against the “black law” that threatens the community’s rights to the streets. It will be detrimental rather than beneficial for Muslims, a senior All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) official said. “The AIMPLB and other Muslim organisations have conveyed their concerns over the Bill to the JPC, but they were not considered,” Maulana Khalid Rashi Farangi Mahali, who is a senior executive member of the Board, said. What is Waqf?A Waqf is an inalienable charitable endowment under Islamic law. It typically involves donating a building, plot of land or other assets for Muslim religious or charitable purposes with no intention of reclaiming the assets. What is Central Waqf Council?Central Waqf Council is a statutory body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. It was set up in 1964 as an advisory body to the Central government on matters concerning the working of the Waqf Boards. The Council consists of a chairperson, who is the Union Minister in-charge of Waqf and such other members. At present, Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju is the ex-officio Chairperson. The Council has been empowered to advise the Central and state governments and state Waqf Boards. What is Waqf (Amendment) Bill?The Bill seeks to modify the Mussalman Waqf Act, 1923 and amend the Waqf Act, 1995. According to the Bill, trusts created by Muslims under any law will no longer be considered Waqf. Only practising Muslims (for at least five years) can dedicate their property to Waqf. Also, women must receive their inheritance before Waqf declaration, with special provisions for widows, divorced women and orphans. The Bill also proposes that an officer of the rank of collector will investigate government properties claimed as Waqf. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
03 April,2025 08:23 AM IST | New Delhi | Agencies
Indian Army retaliates to Pakistan firing along LoC
Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked firing after a mine exploded along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said on Wednesday. He said the Indian army responded “effectively” to the ceasefire violation and continues to dominate the LoC where the situation is under control. Official sources said the violation took place at 1.10 pm on Tuesday. While the Indian Army made no mention of any casualty on the Pakistan side, the sources said five enemy soldiers were injured in the explosion and the subsequent firing between the two sides. “On 01 Apr 2025, a mine blast occurred in Krishna Ghati sector while the Pakistan Army was patrolling along the LoC. This was followed by unprovoked firing and ceasefire violation,” Jammu-based defence PRO Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said. “Own troops responded effectively. The Indian Army continues to dominate the LoC. The situation is under control,” he said. The ceasefire violations along the borders of J&K have been rare since the two nations renewed an agreement on February 25, 2021. However, several ceasefire incidents were reported in Poonch-Rajouri this year. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
03 April,2025 08:22 AM IST | Jammu | Agencies
CBI names Bhupesh Baghel as accused in FIR in Mahadev betting app case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has named former Chhattisgarh chief minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Bhagel as one of the accused in Mahadev online betting app case. According to the FIR, a total of 21 persons have been named as accused. CBI had conducted various searches at over 60 locations across Chhattisgarh, Bhopal, Kolkata, and Delhi including premises linked to politicians, senior bureaucrats, police officers, key functionaries of Mahadev Book, and other private individuals suspected of involvement in the case. Earlier on March 26, the investigative agency also conducted a 14-hour search at the residence of the former CM. Baghel alleged that the raid was politically motivated, suggesting that it was orchestrated to provide content for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech ahead of his visit on March 30. The FIR, originally received on March 4, 2024 alleges that Mahadev Online Book is operating betting services illegally.
03 April,2025 08:21 AM IST | New Delhi | Agencies
Man gets 2-year jail term for threat call to harm PM Modi, CM Yogi
A Mumbai court has sentenced a man to two years in jail for making a threat call to the police, claiming that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim offered him money to assassinate PM Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, reported the PTI. The court ruled that showing sympathy to the accused was unjustified. In the verdict delivered on March 29 in the 2023 case, First Class Judicial Magistrate (Esplanade Court) Hemant Joshi rejected the defense's argument that the accused, Kamran Khan, was mentally unstable, noting that no evidence was presented to support his claim, according to the PTI. The court found Khan guilty of offences under sections 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) and 506(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court sentenced him to two years in jail and imposed a Rs 10,000 fine. According to the prosecution, in November 2023, he called the Mumbai Police, threatening to bomb the state-run J J Hospital. The accused further said, "There is a threat to Modi's life, Dawood Ibrahim is giving Rs 5 crore, he has asked (him) to eliminate Modi," the complainant in the case told the court. The court was informed that the person had also stated that men of Dawood Ibrahim, designated as a global terrorist, were offering Rs 1 crore to him to bomb UP CM Yogi Adityanath. The accused made the call to the control room when he was at J J Hospital in central Mumbai, and his medical check-up by doctors was getting delayed due to a long queue of patients, police informed, reported PTI. The court stated, it was clear the police machinery was caught in a bind due to the crime committed by the accused. "Furthermore, the repetition of such offences by the accused is evident from the complaint. Considering the strain on the government machinery and the security of the very specific individuals who were threatened due to such rumours, showing sympathy to the accused would not be justifiable," the court noted. As per PTI, the court, after going through all the evidence on record, noted the prosecution had successfully established that the threatening call was made from Khan's mobile number. The court further declared him guilty, and has been booked for the offences. (With PTI inputs)
02 April,2025 10:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sarpanch murder: Accused given AC room, special food in jail, claims BJP MLA
BJP MLA Suresh Dhas on Wednesday alleged that accused in the Beed sarpanch murder case were getting a VIP treatment in Beed district jail with an AC room and special food arranged for them, reported the PTI. Dhas also demanded that the accused in the case be shifted to jails in other districts. Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh was abducted and tortured to death on December 9 last year allegedly for attempting to stop an extortion bid targeting an energy company. Eight persons, including Walmik Karad, an aide of NCP leader and former state minister Dhananjay Munde, have been arrested and booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the case. Talking to reporters in Beed after the district planning committee meeting, Dhas said, "Special food is being given to these accused and an air conditioned room is also made available to them...They are allowed to speak over mobile phone regularly," according to the PTI. "If accused in some other case are being sent to Nashik and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, then are Walmik Karad and others (accused in the sarpanch murder case) relatives of the jail administration? They should be shifted to Amravati or Nagpur," he added. Reiterating his claim that Karad was assaulted by members of a rival gang in jail, the BJP legislator from Ashti assembly constituency in Beed said, "Quarrel and fight took place in Beed jail earlier. If prisoners from the rival gang were moved to other districts, then why are those from the opposite side not being shifted elsewhere?" Earlier this month, the Maharashtra Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had filed a chargesheet of more than 1,200 pages in the sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case and two related cases in a court in Beed district in Maharashtra. The murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed, on December 9 last year has triggered a political firestorm in the state as NCP minister Dhananjay Munde's close aide Walmik Karad was arrested in connection with the related extortion case. The Maharashtra government has appointed noted lawyer Ujjwal Nikam as the special public prosecutor in the case. (with PTI inputs)
02 April,2025 10:36 PM IST | Beed (Maharashtra) | mid-day online correspondent
Shivaji Maharaj was 100 per cent secular ruler: Gadkari
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was 100 per cent a secular ruler who won plenty of wars but never vandalised a mosque, reported the PTI. Gadkari, while addressing a book launch event, stated that there are many misconceptions about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The minister launched the English-translated version of the book titled The Wild Warfront' written by Vishwas Patil. The book is translated by Nadeem Khan. "Shivaji Maharaj was an ideal ruler, ideal father. He was 100 per cent secular, who won many wars but never destroyed any mosque," Gadkari stated, as per the PTI. He said that it is unfortunate that whoever becomes a big leader starts talking about caste and religion. "I warn people not to talk about caste and religion," the minister asserted, reported PTI. Falling lithium battery prices to make EVs more affordable, says Gadkari Union Minister Nitin Gadkari states that the reduction in lithium-ion battery prices will make electric vehicles more affordable, boosting India's transition to sustainable transport. He also highlighted the government's push for green technologies and cycling infrastructure. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has emphasised that the decreasing cost of lithium-ion batteries will significantly lower the price of electric vehicles (EVs), making them more affordable to a larger section of the population. Speaking at the launch of an eco-friendly electric cycle in Thane on Monday, Gadkari highlighted the importance of transitioning from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources in combating pollution, one of India’s biggest challenges. Gadkari pointed out that India’s dependency on fossil fuels imposes both an economic and environmental burden, with the country spending approximately Rs 22 lakh crore annually on fuel imports. He stressed that the shift towards clean energy alternatives like electric vehicles and biofuels is essential not only for environmental reasons but also for India’s economic progress. Advancements in battery technology, particularly the drop in lithium-ion battery prices from USD 150 per kWh a few years ago to around USD 100 now, are driving the affordability of electric vehicles. Gadkari stated that further reductions in battery costs would bring EVs closer to price parity with traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, thereby enabling broader adoption. "Once the price of lithium continues to drop, the cost of electric vehicles will decrease, making them accessible to the masses," he noted. Looking ahead, Gadkari expressed confidence that by 2030, India would emerge as the global leader in electric vehicle production, significantly impacting the worldwide automotive market. He also mentioned that India’s automobile sector has already overtaken Japan to become the third-largest globally since 2014. The Minister also stressed the need for sustainable urban transport solutions, such as cycling, given the increasing urbanisation of India. He suggested that promoting cycling could help address the challenges of traffic congestion and environmental pollution, while also encouraging healthier lifestyles. Gadkari also focused on the growing export potential of India’s electric two-wheelers, which are becoming increasingly popular internationally. "Fifty percent of India’s two-wheelers are now being exported, and this export trend is outpacing domestic sales," he said. (With PTI inputs)
02 April,2025 09:54 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Fadnavis, Shinde back Waqf bill; Cong says govt wants to give away land
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde on Wednesday welcomed the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha, reported the PTI. Fadnavis and Shinde called it a progressive step that aligns with the secular values enshrined in the Constitution. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the bill will benefit for muslim community. CM Fadnavis expressed confidence that the bill, tabled by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, would secure parliamentary approval. Fadnavis stated that the legislation aims to enhance transparency, introduce technology-driven management of Waqf properties, and rectify past irregularities. Notably, it includes provisions for women's representation on the Waqf Board and removes restrictions on challenging board decisions in court, reported the PTI. The Maharashtra CM criticised the previous administration, alleging that Waqf lands were misappropriated by Congress leaders. He dismissed claims that industrialists would benefit from the bill, calling such criticism an attempt at appeasement politics. He further challenged the opposition, Shiv Sena (UBT), to support the bill if they still adhere to Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology. Shinde, in turn, accused the opposition of engaging in vote-bank politics and operating under Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s influence. He asserted that the bill promotes holistic development within the Muslim community and ensures Waqf properties serve the larger public by facilitating schools, colleges, and hospitals. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal criticised the bill, alleging that the BJP-led government intends to transfer Waqf lands to industrialists and builders. He argued that land rights had been historically established for religious institutions, and the bill threatens this framework, as per the PTI. In a country with a large landless population, Gandhian and social reformer Acharya Vinoba Bhave launched the 'Bhoodan' movement, collecting thousands of acres of land and distributing them to the poor, he said, the news agency reported. First Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru introduced tenancy laws under the principle of "land to the tiller," followed by the Ceiling Act. Former PM Indira Gandhi took decisive steps to distribute land ownership, and under the Congress-led UPA government (2004-14), tribal communities were granted rights over forest lands, Sapkal noted. However, the BJP-led NDA government is now viewing the Waqf Bill through a religious lens and seems to be planning to take over donated properties and hand them over to industrialists and builders, Sapkal alleged. "They have already handed over Dharavi's land to Adani, and under the pretext of the Shakti Peeth Corridor, attempts are being made to allocate Konkan land to Adani and Ambani. This (Waqf Bill) appears to be a similar ploy," Sapkal claimed, reported the PTI. (With PTI inputs)
02 April,2025 08:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Gujarat warehouse blast: Aluminium powder identified as cause of explosion
A forensic probe has determined that aluminium powder, a key component in firecracker manufacturing, was responsible for the massive explosion that tore through a warehouse near Deesa town in Gujarat, resulting in the deaths of 21 individuals, reported the PTI. The blast, which occurred on Tuesday morning, had also led to devastating blaze, officials confirmed on Wednesday. Banaskantha district Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshayraj Makwana said that apart from aluminium powder, forensic experts also recovered yellow dextrin powder from the site, which was being used as a storage facility for firecrackers. Both substances are commonly utilised in the production of firecrackers, raising suspicions that the warehouse may have been engaged in illegal manufacturing, according to the PTI. The SP said that a thorough investigation was underway to establish whether firecrackers were being produced on the premises.The explosion had took place at approximately 9.45 am on Tuesday in an industrial zone near Deesa, about 30 km from the Banaskantha district headquarters. The impact of the blast was so severe that body parts of workers were found scattered as far as 200 to 300 metres from the site, officials reported. Some victims, who resided on the premises, were crushed to death when large chunks of the reinforced concrete cement (RCC) roof collapsed on them, according to authorities.As per PTI, the police arrested warehouse owners Deepak Mohnani and his father, Khubchand Mohnani, on Tuesday night from the neighbouring Sabarkantha district. The duo has been booked under charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, as well as relevant sections of the Explosives Act and the Explosive Substances Act.SP Makwana explained that aluminium powder, while not classified as an explosive, is highly flammable and capable of generating immense energy if ignited in an enclosed space, potentially triggering a powerful explosion. “The accused have denied manufacturing firecrackers in the godown, but given the presence of these materials, we are conducting a detailed probe in this regard,” he stated. Authorities are also investigating whether oxidisers, another crucial ingredient in firecracker production, were present.On Tuesday, Deesa Sub-Divisional Magistrate Neha Panchal revealed that the warehouse had initially obtained a licence to store firecrackers. However, this licence was not renewed after expiring on 31st December, due to lapses. Panchal suggested that the facility was likely involved in illegal firecracker production, rather than merely serving as a storage unit. Meanwhile, Range Inspector General (IG) Chirag Koradia has formed a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the explosion. In addition, seven other teams have been established to scrutinise various aspects of the case, including the financial transactions and call records of the accused. (With inputs from PTI)
02 April,2025 06:01 PM IST | Deesa | mid-day online correspondent