Jharkhand shutdown evokes mixed response
Ranchi, July 5 : A state-wide shutdown called by the opposition in Jharkhand to protest against an amendment to the Land Acquisition Act authorising direct parchases witnessed mixed response on Thursday.
More than 1,000 people were arrested in different parts of the state after opposition parties' supporters tried to enforce the shutdown against the legal provision allowing the government to acquire land directly from owners.
Most shops and schools remained closed, while buses on long-distance routes were not plying. Train services were affected in Sahebganj district.
The Jharkhand government has warned of strict action against those involved in the violence.
"Anyone found damaging public or private property will be dealt with as per law. They will have to pay for the losses incurred," Home Secretary S.K. Rahate had said on Wednesday.
The Jharkhand Assembly passed the amendment bill by a voice vote in August 2017, while the President cleared it in June.
The state government has maintained that the amendment was necessary as people-oriented projects were getting delayed by the earlier provisions that had capped the direct purchase of land.
Around 5,000 personnel of the state police have been deployed along with two companies of the Rapid Action Force, six companies of the Reserve Armed Police and 3,100 home guards to tackle the situation arising from the protests against the changes made in the Land Acquisition Amendment Act 2013.
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Muslim leaders submit memorandum to JPC member Imran Masood against Waqf Bill
Jaipur (PTI): A delegation of Muslim leaders associated with the Congress met party MP Imran Masood, who is a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, in Ajmer on Sunday and submitted a memorandum against the provisions of the bill.
The bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on August 8 and referred to a joint parliamentary panel after a heated debate. The 31-member panel will submit its report by the next session of Parliament.
While the government has asserted that the proposed law did not intend to interfere with the functioning of mosques, the opposition called it targeting of Muslims and an attack on the Constitution.
The delegation of Muslim leaders met Masood, who was on a visit to Ajmer, and said the members of the community are opposed to the amendments because Waqf is a religious matter of the Muslims.
"We will not allow the government to interfere in our religious matters. The Constitution allows us to function according to our religion. The truth is that the government's intentions are not right," stated the memorandum addressed to the JPC's head Jagdambika Pal.
"Waqf is a completely religious matter and interference in it will not be right," it said.
The delegation included Ghulam Mustafa Chishti, Muzaffar Bharti, Rab Nawaz Jafri, Manzoor Ali, Ashraf Buland Khan, Ajmat Khan and Wahid Mohammad.
