Prime Minister Modi is an alien: Gulam Nabi Azad
Chikmagaluru, May 5: Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and former chief minister Jammu and Kashmir Gulam Nabi Azad said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has been doing his politics by dividing the religious fabric and harmonious tradition of the country, is really an alien.
Addressing an election rally in the city on Saturday, Azad said that the country is known for its special communal harmony between Hindus and Muslims and tradition. Here there is no discrimination between people. There was no tradition in the country to ask votes on the basis of religions. Unfortunately, Modi does not have knowledge about this. As a result, he has been wiping out this tradition, he lashed.
The country has seen a number of prime ministers. Atal Bihari Vajpayee of BJP had also ruled the country. But there was no blow for communal and social harmony in the country. Vajpayee did not try to create rift among people. But the country has never seen a prime minister like Modi. He has been seeking votes placing the religion ahead and thus, tried to damage the unity between Hindus and Muslims. He might have from another planet, he said.
During Indira Gandhi period, he was given a ticket for Lok Sabha election from a constituency in Maharashtra where the number of Muslims was just 5 per cent. He did not have any clarity on the constituency. But the people who campaigned in favour of him were Hindus. Interestingly, his opponent was also a Hindu candidate. But though he was a Muslim, he was elected by a margin of 2.50 lakh votes and those Hindu voters did not consider religion as a criteria to elect a person. It is the culture and tradition of this country. Because of this reason, the country was being respected across the globe. But the alien prime minister has disturbed the communal harmony in the country. He was doing the same thing even in Karnataka. If the Hindus and Muslims are not united, it is impossible to develop the country, he said.
Earlier, former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, his sons and Yeddyurappa were the opponents for Congress in Karnataka. Now, Modi is the opponent. Along with Modi, the Congress has to face his money, corruption and some paid media. The Congress which believed in secular ideologies has been doing its politics on the basis of the Constitution, he said and hoped that people of Karnataka would not believe Modi so easily.
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Parliament passes Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025
New Delhi (PTI): Parliament early Friday passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after it was approved by the Rajya Sabha.
The Lok Sabha had on Thursday approved the Bill after over a 12-hour debate.
In Rajya Sabha, the Bill got 128 votes in its favour and 95 against after all the amendments moved by the opposition were rejected.
In the lower house, the bill was supported by 288 MPs while 232 voted against it.
Participating in a debate in the Rajya Sabha, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Bill was brought with a number of amendments based on suggestions given by various stakeholders.
"The Waqf Board is a statutory body. All government bodies should be secular," the minister said, explaining the inclusion of non-Muslims on the board.
He, however, said the number of non-Muslims has been restricted to only four out of 22.
Rijiju also alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties, and not the BJP, were trying to scare Muslims with the Waqf Bill.
"You (opposition) are pushing Muslims out of the mainstream," he added.
He said for 60 years, the Congress and others ruled the country, but did not do much for Muslims and the community continues to live in poverty.
"Muslims are poor, who is responsible? You (Congress) are. Modi is now leading the government to uplift them," the minister said.
According to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Waqf tribunals will be strengthened, a structured selection process will be maintained, and a tenure will be fixed to ensure efficient dispute resolution.
As per the Bill, while Waqf institutions' mandatory contribution to Waqf boards is reduced from 7 per cent to 5 per cent, Waqf institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh will undergo audits by state-sponsored auditors.
A centralised portal will automate Waqf property management, improving efficiency and transparency.
The Bill proposes that practising Muslims (for at least five years) can dedicate their property to the Waqf, restoring pre-2013 rules.
It stipulates that women must receive their inheritance before the Waqf declaration, with special provisions for widows, divorced women and orphans.
The Bill proposes that an officer above the rank of collector investigate government properties claimed as Waqf.
It also proposes that non-Muslim members be included in the central and state Waqf boards for inclusivity.
