Waqf (Amendment) Bill 'assault' on Constitution: Sonia Gandhi
New Delhi (PTI): Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Thursday termed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill as a "brazen assault" on the Constitution, saying it was part of the BJP's strategy to keep society in a state of "permanent polarisation".
Hours after the Lok Sabha passed the Waqf amendment bill, Gandhi said the bill was "bulldozed" through in the lower house.
Addressing Congress MPs at a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party in Samvidhan Sadan here, she also said that the One Nation, One Election Bill is another subversion of the Constitution and the party would strongly oppose it.
"Whether it is education, civil rights and liberties, our federal structure or conduct of elections, the Modi government is dragging the country into an abyss where our Constitution will remain on paper and we know their intention is to demolish even that," she charged.
"It is vital for all of us to continue to fight for what is right and just, to expose Modi government's failing and intention to turn India into a surveillance state," Gandhi told MPs at the meeting.
All party MPs, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, were present at the meeting.
Sonia Gandhi also alleged that the prime minister has rebranded, repackaged and marketed numerous initiatives taken during 2004-2014 as his own personal accomplishments. That too needs to be exposed through our own public outreach activities, she asserted.
Speaking on the functioning of both houses of Parliament, she charged that the Leaders of Opposition are not allowed to speak and the treasury benches are often found to be creating disturbance in a bid to not allow the Congress to raise their issues.
Noting that the BJP members aggressively target Congress-ruled state governments, with "total falsehoods", she urged party MPs to be equally aggressive and raise the failures and mis-governance in BJP-ruled states.
This will mean much more pointed homework and research on our part, she noted.
The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill well past midnight after a 12-hour debate.
The Bill was passed after all amendments moved by the opposition members were rejected by voice votes. It was passed after division of votes -- 288 in favour and 232 against. The Bill will now come up in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
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Bidar gears up for the Third National Convention of Quraish Conference on April 12
Bidar: Preparations are in full swing for the Third National Convention of the Quraish Conference, scheduled to be held on April 12 at SM Hangargi Function Hall, located opposite DCC Bank in Bidar city. The announcement was made through a press note by Muhammad Nabi Qureshi, President of the Quraish Conference (Registered), Karnataka.
The convention will focus on key issues concerning the Quraish community in Karnataka, particularly addressing fundamental rights, atrocities faced by members of the business community, and other pressing concerns. Delegates from various parts of the country including Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, and other states are expected to attend, marking it as a significant national gathering.
According to the press release, this third edition of the national convention aims to unite the Quraish community across India, confront social evils within the community, promote education, and explore measures to safeguard livelihoods and traditional businesses.
In this convention, Mohammad Rahim Khan Sahib (Minister of Local Government, Administration and Hajj Affairs, Government of Karnataka), Bandappa Kasimpur Sahib (Former Minister, Government of Karnataka), Dr. Abdul Qadeer Sahib (Chairman, Shaheen Group of Institutions), Mohammad Masood Ahmed Sahib (President, Aam Aadmi Forum (NGO)) will be the special guests.
As per the release, the third national convention will be presided over by Advocate Sanobar Ali Qureshi, National President of Qureshi Conference.
A number of important resolutions will be discussed and adopted during the session. Key proposals include:
A call for the Karnataka Government to repeal the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020 and restore the provisions of the 1964 Act.
A demand for the establishment of modern slaughterhouses at the district level across all states, preferably on land owned by local municipal bodies, to boost employment opportunities.
An appeal to both Central and State Governments to establish Meat Boards at respective levels, along with a single-window system to address industry concerns efficiently.
A request for greater representation of the Quraish community in state-level decision-making bodies.
Legal experts and Supreme Court lawyers will also participate in the convention, offering insights into the constitutional validity and legal perspectives surrounding these demands.
