INDIA

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, with 288 MPs voting in favor and 232 against it. The legislation, aimed at streamlining the administration of Waqf properties and ensuring transparency through technology-driven management, was introduced by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. During the debate, Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized the Congress, accusing it of spreading misinformation about the bill. He dismissed claims that the legislation interferes in Muslim religious matters, calling such concerns "fear-mongering for vote-bank politics." Mr. Rijiju highlighted that the consultation process for the bill, conducted by a Joint Parliamentary Committee, was the most extensive in India's parliamentary history. Despite opposition d...

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday dismissed claims that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill allows non-Muslims to be part of Waqf management, stating that such rumors are being spread to mislead minorities. While speaking in the Lok Sabha on Waqf Amendment bill Home Minister Amit Shah as per news agency JKNS, clarified and said, "No non-Islamic member will be a part of Waqf. There is neither any provision for appointing a non-Muslim to manage religious institutions, nor do we intend to introduce any such provision." He added that misinformation was being spread to create fear among minorities for political gain. He further stated, "The Waqf Act and Board have been in place since 1995, and there is no change allowing non-Muslims to interfere in Waqf affairs. The claim that this Bill...

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday strongly opposed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, calling it "anti-Constitutional" and accusing the BJP government of hypocrisy over Muslim rights. "They are so concerned about Muslims that they did not even allow them to offer prayers freely on the day of Eid in several states," Gogoi said in the Lok Sabha. He further dismissed the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) process as a "farce," alleging that none of the recommendations put forth by the opposition were accepted. "They didn't even have discussions on clauses. The entire process was just an eyewash," he said. His remarks triggered a heated debate, with opposition parties, including the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party, rejecting the bill and calling it an attack on M...

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has exuded confidence that the BJP will remain in power at the Centre for at least 30 years due to its consistent performance. In a democracy, he said, the victory of any party depends on its hard work. "If you toil day in and day out and live not for yourself but for the country, victory will be yours." "When I was the national president of the BJP, I had said the BJP will remain in power for the next 30 years. Only 10 years have gone now," he said at the Times Now Summit 2025 on Friday night. The senior BJP leader said that when a party performs well, it gains the trust of the public and the confidence to win. "But those who do not perform do not have this confidence," he added. Asked about the UCC, Shah said all BJP-ruled states will introduce i...

The Delhi High Court has granted custody parole to jailed MP and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) president Engineer Rashid, allowing him to attend the second part of the 4th Session of the Lok Sabha. AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam-un-Nabi confirmed the development to news agency JKNS, saying, "The Hon'ble Delhi High Court has permitted MP Er Rashid to attend the Parliament session March 26 to April 4. Er Rashid, who was elected as Member of Parliament from Baramulla, has been in custody in connection with a terror funding case. The development comes after multiple appeals from his party and supporters demanding that he be allowed to represent the people in Parliament. (JKNS)

With two associate organizations of Hurriyat - Jammu Kashmir People’s Movement and the Democratic Political Movement – announcing their decision to sever ties with the separatist outfit, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday urged more groups to shun separatism. In an ‘X’ post Shah said, “Separatism has become history in Kashmir. The unifying policies of the Modi government have tossed separatism out of J&K. Two organizations of the Hurriyat, J&K People’s Movement, and the Democratic Political Movement, have announced the severing of all ties with separatism.” He went on to say that he welcomed “this step towards strengthening Bharat’s unity and urge all such groups to come forward and shed separatism once and for all” and claimed: “It is a big victory for PM Shri @narendr...

"India is in the safe hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi", Home Minister Amit Shah told Rajya Sabha on Friday, underlining the government's zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and his vow to end Naxalism by March next year. Replying to a discussion on the working of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shah also talked about incidents of weapons being drone-dropped from across the country and said India is very close to getting a complete anti-drone solution, and it will be achieved within six months. The home minister attacked the Opposition for its criticism of the three-language policy in the National Education Policy 2020, alleging they are doing so out of political reasons and to hide their "corruption". Trying to put to rest the ongoing language row, especially in Tamil Nadu, t...

Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday arrested Zafar Ali, a prominent lawyer and the Sadar Chief of Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, in connection with the 2024 protests against the mosque’s survey and the subsequent police violence. Before his arrest, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had taken Zafar Ali into custody to record his statement regarding the case. According to the police, he was among the first to receive information about the official survey scheduled in Sambhal and allegedly mobilized local Muslims to protest on November 19, 2024. The police claim this led to unrest and violence. His elder brother, Advocate Mohammad Tahir, stated that Zafar Ali was supposed to appear before a commission the following day to provide his testimony. However, he alleged that the police arrested ...

A government primary school principal, Irfana Naqvi, has been suspended after organizing an iftar gathering on March 17, triggering a wave of criticism and debate. A video of the gathering, which showed several Muslims breaking their fast on school premises, went viral, prompting swift action from the education department. Authorities claimed that Naqvi had not sought prior approval for the event, leading to her suspension and a case being registered against the organizers. Defending the decision, Shikarpur’s Assistant Basic Shiksha Adhikari (ABSA), Aman Gupta, stated, “No event can be conducted in government schools without permission. Principal Irfana Naqvi violated this rule by organizing the iftar without approval, leading to her suspension.” However, the move has sparked crit...