Inauguration of 'GoNidhi' painting expo at Manipal
Amount collected from sale of paintings to be given to Kodagu disaster
Udupi, September 21: A three days 'Gonidhi' painting exhibition, organised by the Thrivarna Kala Kendra of Manipal in association with the district administration at RSB Bhavan at Manipal to collect donations for Kodagu disaster victims, was inaugurated on Friday. Mangaluru city corporation joint commissioner Gokuldas Karmath inaugurated the exhibition.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that it was the responsibility of every individual to respond to those who lost everything in the natural disaster. The general public need to join hands with the government. One cannot evaluate the paintings crafted by the children. In spite of it, the decision of the children to sell their paintings and donate the collected amount to the victims of the disaster victims which is appreciable, he said.
Madhava Kripa school principal Jessie Andrews, Udupi Chitrakala Mandir Director U.C Niranjan, Senior artist P.N Acharya and others were present.
Manipal Lions Club president Shruti Shenoy presided over the programme. Centre guide Harish Saga, Students Mythili G, Haritha Alapathi and Sushma were also present.
Total 39 paintings drawn by the students of Kundapura and Manipal centres displayed in the exhibition which will remain open till September 23.
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Parliament passes Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025
New Delhi (PTI): Parliament early Friday passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after it was approved by the Rajya Sabha.
The Lok Sabha had on Thursday approved the Bill after over a 12-hour debate.
In Rajya Sabha, the Bill got 128 votes in its favour and 95 against after all the amendments moved by the opposition were rejected.
In the lower house, the bill was supported by 288 MPs while 232 voted against it.
Participating in a debate in the Rajya Sabha, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Bill was brought with a number of amendments based on suggestions given by various stakeholders.
"The Waqf Board is a statutory body. All government bodies should be secular," the minister said, explaining the inclusion of non-Muslims on the board.
He, however, said the number of non-Muslims has been restricted to only four out of 22.
Rijiju also alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties, and not the BJP, were trying to scare Muslims with the Waqf Bill.
"You (opposition) are pushing Muslims out of the mainstream," he added.
He said for 60 years, the Congress and others ruled the country, but did not do much for Muslims and the community continues to live in poverty.
"Muslims are poor, who is responsible? You (Congress) are. Modi is now leading the government to uplift them," the minister said.
According to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Waqf tribunals will be strengthened, a structured selection process will be maintained, and a tenure will be fixed to ensure efficient dispute resolution.
As per the Bill, while Waqf institutions' mandatory contribution to Waqf boards is reduced from 7 per cent to 5 per cent, Waqf institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh will undergo audits by state-sponsored auditors.
A centralised portal will automate Waqf property management, improving efficiency and transparency.
The Bill proposes that practising Muslims (for at least five years) can dedicate their property to the Waqf, restoring pre-2013 rules.
It stipulates that women must receive their inheritance before the Waqf declaration, with special provisions for widows, divorced women and orphans.
The Bill proposes that an officer above the rank of collector investigate government properties claimed as Waqf.
It also proposes that non-Muslim members be included in the central and state Waqf boards for inclusivity.
