Delhi's AAP govt 'indulged in corruption', polluted Yamuna, says Annamalai
New Delhi (PTI): The BJP's Tamil Nadu unit chief K Annamalai on Sunday accused Delhi's AAP government of "indulging in corruption" and polluting the Yamuna even further.
Addressing the Delhi Tamil Confluence organised by the Tamil Nadu Prakosth of the BJP's Delhi unit at Talkatora Stadium, Annamalai also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given respect to the Tamil community everywhere.
He said, "The people of Delhi are quite honest and they have embraced the people of Tamil Nadu, which is a matter of pride for Tamil Nadu. After May 13, all colleagues from Tamil Nadu are preparing to come to Delhi so that they can ensure our victory on all seven seats."
The BJP's Tamil Nadu chief also hailed Modi's welfare schemes.
"In his 10 years of work, whether it is providing permanent housing, LPG cylinders or other schemes, the benefits of the Modi government's schemes have been received by all sections of society without discrimination," he said.
"But within Delhi, there is a government of a person who should serve the common people but is continuously involved in scams. There was talk of never joining hands with such a person but, today, they are talking about forming a government with him," he claimed, referring to the Congress' electoral alliance with AAP in Delhi.
Annamalai alleged that besides indulging in "corruption" in every department, the AAP government has polluted the Yamuna river even further.
"Therefore, on May 25, victory on all seven seats of Delhi must be ensured. After the victory, we will call big leaders from Tamil Nadu and the country and organise a big event," he said.
Earlier in the day, Annamalai addressed more than 1,000 social media volunteers and discussed in detail how to use the platform in the elections.
Asserting that the BJP has always believed in truth and not narrative, Annamalai said, "We have to take the truth to people through social media".
"Those who do not want development of the country set such a narrative that works to divide the people of India," he alleged.
Annamalai also accused the Congress of spreading a narrative in south India that Modi is has set a target of 400-plus seats because he wants to end the Constitution while reality is that the Constitution was in danger and its provisions suspended during the Congress era.
"Today, if there is any first-time voter, he would have been eight years old during the Congress government. So it is necessary to give him information about what happened in history," he added.
Annamalai also claimed that the opposition INDIA bloc neither has candidates for prime minister nor any narrative.
Polling for the national capital's seven Lok Sabha seats will be held in the sixth phase on May 25.
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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.
