Congress divided on hijab issue: Karnataka Minister R Ashok
Mangaluru (PTI): The Congress party is divided on the hijab (scarf) issue as the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) D K Shivakumar is not backing the views of Opposition Leader Siddaramaiah on the row, State Revenue Minister R Ashok said on Saturday.
Addressing reporters on the sidelines of a meeting at the zilla panchayat hall here, Ashok said Shivakumar is not allowing Congress leaders to openly say that they are in favour of hijab while Siddaramaiah has a different stance.
Ashok was responding to the Congress's demand for the resignation of K S Eshwarappa for his remarks on saffron flag at the Red Fort.
The Congress is not prepared to raise the hijab issue in the Assembly for discussion and is deviating the attention to Eshwarappa's comment, Ashok alleged.
The Minister wanted the Congress to come out clear on the issue to enable students to return to colleges.
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Mayawati criticises 'hasty' passage of Waqf Bill, says BSP does not support it
Lucknow (PTI): Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Friday criticised the central government for "rushing" the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, saying that the legislation should have been introduced only after addressing people's concerns and clarifying doubts.
Her remarks came after the Rajya Sabha passed the Bill late Thursday night, a day after its approval in the Lok Sabha, where the opposition strongly opposed it.
"After listening to both the ruling party and the opposition in Parliament on the Waqf Amendment Bill, the conclusion is that if the central government had given the public more time to understand the Bill and addressed all their concerns before bringing it forward, it would have been better," Mayawati posted on X in Hindi.
The BSP leader further expressed disappointment over what she termed as the government's "haste" in passing the Bill.
"It is unfortunate that the government hurriedly introduced and passed this Bill, which is not appropriate. Now that it has been passed, if governments misuse it, then the BSP will stand firmly with the Muslim community. In other words, the party does not support this Bill," she added.
