Opposition INDIA bloc to participate in Waqf Bill debate, demand division of votes
New Delhi: The opposition INDIA bloc has unanimously decided to participate in the debate on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and seek a division of votes during its passage. The decision was reached at a meeting on Tuesday evening, attended by all opposition parties.
CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas confirmed that opposition parties will vote against the Bill and coordinate with YSRCP and BJD for support. Floor leaders will decide which clauses to oppose during the debate. He emphasized that the opposition views the Bill as undermining secular principles rather than treating it as a community-specific issue.
CPI MP Sandosh Kumar noted that 36 MPs participated in the meeting, all expressing a unified stance. Despite the ruling party’s numerical advantage, he asserted that the opposition would participate in the debate without resorting to walkouts or disruptions.
Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav stated that opposition parties would stand united and support amendments while demanding a division of votes. IUML MP ET Muhammed Basheer reiterated that the INDIA bloc would strongly oppose the Bill, citing perceived injustices.
DMK MP Kanimozhi accused the BJP of divisive politics, affirming opposition to the amendment. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant pointed out that the opposition had stood united when a Joint Parliamentary Committee was formed for the Bill and would continue to do so.
Lok Sabha will discuss the Bill today, with the Rajya Sabha expected to take it up on Thursday. Both Houses have been allocated eight hours each for the debate.
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Ex-Army officer assaulted, robbed at gunpoint by woman he met through matrimonial website
Mathura(UP), Apr 5 (PTI): A retired Army colonel from Haryana has filed a police complaint here, alleging that he was held hostage, assaulted, looted and forced to participate in an "obscene video" at gunpoint with a woman he met through a matrimonial website, police said on Saturday.
The woman from Mathura, who was allegedly in on the plan to rob him, was working with other accomplices, the ex-armyman said in his complaint filed on Thursday.
According to Barsana Station House Officer (SHO) Raj Kamal Singh, Colonel Rajneesh Soni (retired), a resident of Gurugram, reported that he was contacted by a woman from Barsana on a matrimonial website in January. The woman allegedly agreed to marry him, and they began communicating.
The woman allegedly persuaded the colonel to visit Barsana on January 25, requesting that he visit the Radharani temple. When he arrived, she arranged for his stay at a guest house and took him on a tour of the area, including a visit to the temple, the complainant said.
After returning to the guest house, the woman and her accomplices allegedly told the colonel that her brother had been involved in an accident and they needed to leave immediately. They then led him to a waiting car.
"Once outside the town limits, the colonel alleges that he was attacked by the occupants of the car. They seized his phone, physically assaulted him, and forced him to contact relatives and friends to transfer money," the SHO said.
"He was then taken back to the guest house, where he was allegedly forced to participate in obscene videos and photographs at gunpoint. He was threatened that the videos would be made public if he reported the incident," the officer said.
The colonel has alleged that his purse, bag, gold chain, debit card and Rs. 12,000 in cash were stolen from the guest house.
After an unsuccessful attempt at locating the perpetrators himself, the colonel finally reported the incident to the Barsana police two days ago, he said.
"A case has been registered under relevant sections of the BNS and all facts are being investigated. Further action will be taken as per facts found in the investigation," the SHO said.
