Aug 20: 1,453 COVID-19 cases, 17 fatalities in Karnataka
Dakshina Kannada logs 341 positive Covid-19 cases, six deaths
Bengaluru, Aug 20: Karnataka reported 1,453 new COVID-19 cases and 17 deaths on Friday, taking the total number of infections to 29,36,077 and the toll to 37,105.
The day also saw 1,408 discharges, taking the total number of recoveries in the state so far to 28,77,785.
Out of 1,453 new cases reported on Friday, 352 were from Bengaluru Urban, as the city saw 381 discharges and one death.
The total number of active cases in the state is at 21,161.
While the positivity rate stood at 0.83 per cent, the CaseFatality Rate (CFR) was 1.16 per cent.
Dakshina Kannada accounted for most number of deaths (6), Mysuru and Uttara Kannada had two each , followed by others.
Among the districts where the new cases were reported, Bengaluru Urban accounted for 352, Dakshina Kannada 341, Udupi 176, Hassan 101, Kodagu 95, followed by others.
Bengaluru Urban district topped the list of positive cases, with a total of 12,34,509. Mysuru came next with 1,75,080 and Tumakuru had 1,18,819.
Among discharges too, Bengaluru Urban was on top with 12,10,640, followed by Mysuru 1,71,725 and Tumakuru 1,17,058.
Cumulatively a total of 4,16,82,357 samples have been tested in the state so far, out of which 1,73,000 were on Friday alone.
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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.
