Govt withdraws The Waqf Properties (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants), Bill, 2014
New Delhi, Aug 8: The government on Thursday withdrew the Waqf Properties (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Bill 2014, which sought to provide for a mechanism for the eviction of unauthorised occupants from waqf properties, in Rajya Sabha.
The Waqf Properties (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants), Bill, 2014 was introduced in Rajya Sabha on February 18, 2014 by erstwhile minority affairs minister K Rahman Khan.
It was referred to the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice on March 5, 2014.
Assets dedicated for religious or charitable purposes are referred as Waqf properties.
Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju sought the leave of the House to withdraw the bill and the withdrawal was approved by voice vote in Rajya Sabha by the members.
CPI (M) MP John Brittas and IUML MP Abdul Wahab opposed the withdrawal of the bill in the Upper House.
Explaining about his stand, Brittas said the bill was introduced in Rajaya Sabha precisely because it was intended to free the properties of Waqf properties.
The objectives of the bill are model objective which should be adhered to, he pointed out, and added that this government deliberately delayed getting confirmation of the House and the Parliament.
He stated that this bill is being withdrawn precisely to bring another bill to encroach upon Waqf properties, (with) diametrically opposite intention.
"The intention of the government is suspect. They want to create polarisation in the society. They want to polarise the Indian people. They want to play politics," he alleged.
He opined that the government has no business to get into Waqf properties and the new bill which has been circulated is against the spirit of this Waqf properties.
He alleged that the government is diluting the Waqf Act and trying to bring non-Muslims into Waqf governing.
"I would urge the government that at a time when we have so much examples coming from neighbouring countries, we should be striving to ensure the social fabric of this country remains intact," he said.
About withdrawal of the bill, Wahab said, "We fear that you have some plans behind. That plan came open when our minister circulated the (new) bill.
He said the intention of the (new) bill is not good and urged the government to reconsider it.
"Don't give all the powers to IAS officer (to decide on Waqf properties)," he added.
Earlier, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal introduced The Boilers Bill, 2024 to provide for the regulation of boilers, safety of life and property of persons from the danger of explosions of steam-boilers and for uniformity in registration and inspection during manufacturing, erection and use of boilers in the country.
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Syria says Israeli strikes leave 18 dead in the biggest toll since the war in Gaza began
Masyaf (Syria), Sep 9: The number of people killed in overnight Israeli strikes in Syria has risen to 18 with dozens more wounded, Syria's health minister said on Monday — the largest death toll in such an attack since the beginning of the war in Gaza.
One of the sites targeted was a research centre used in the development of weapons, a war monitor said. Syrian officials said civilian sites were targeted.
Israel regularly targets military sites in Syria linked to Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah. Those strikes have become more frequent as Hezbollah has exchanged fire with Israeli forces for the past 11 months against the backdrop of Israel's war against Hamas — a Hezbollah ally — in Gaza.
However, the intensity and death toll of Sunday night's strikes were unusual.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of war-torn Syria in recent years, but it rarely acknowledges or discusses the operations. The strikes often target Syrian forces or Iranian-backed groups.
Israel has vowed to stop Iranian entrenchment in Syria, particularly since Syria is a key route for Iran to send weapons to Hezbollah.
Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires, Syrian state news agency SANA said.
Speaking to reporters, Syrian Health Minister Hassan al-Ghabbash described the strikes as a “brutal and barbaric aggression”. He said the death toll had risen to 18 with nearly 40 wounded.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, said 25 were killed, including at least five civilians, while the others included Syrian army soldiers and members of Hezbollah and other Iran-linked armed groups.
One strike targeted a scientific research centre in Masyaf, and others struck sites where “Iranian militias and experts are stationed to develop weapons in Syria”, the observatory said. It said the research centre was reportedly used for developing weapons, including short- and medium-range precision missiles and drones.
Minister of Electricity Mohammad al-Zamel said the strikes had caused “truly significant” damage to water and electricity infrastructure.
“This brutal attack targeted civilian targets, and the martyrs were mostly civilians, as were the wounded,” he said.
Local media also reported strikes around the coastal city of Tartous, which the observatory said were the result of air defense missiles falling.
On Monday afternoon, a charred car remained at the scene of one strike and smoke was still rising from some spots where fires had been put out.
