‘BJP has given tickets to rowdies, mafia and money lenders’
Sogadu Shivanna blasts his own party
Tumkur, August 27: Former minister Sogadu Shivanna made a scathing attack on his own party saying that the BJP has given tickets to those who have gone to jails, mafia and private money lenders for the city corporation elections.
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Shivanna said that BJP workers have been alleging that the party district president and former MP have sold the tickets for the city corporation elections. With just three days left to election to be held on August 31, party workers were disappointed about this attitude. Father and son have neglected the party workers which attracted widespread resentment, he said.
BJP is sinking
The party workers have been experiencing the humiliation and pain in this election because of party district president and former MP. As a result, the BJP’s base in the district was sinking.
In the last assembly elections, the party has reached a situation where it has lost deposits in Pavagada, Madhugiri, Koratagere, Shira, Gubbi and other constituencies in the assembly elections. Turuvekere, Tiptur and Chikkanayakanahalli where BJP won were like separate districts.
Tumkur has become an island. There was no coordination. The party state president should look into it and entrust a suitable person to lead the party in the district, he said.
Vote for good people
He appealed the people to vote for the good and honest people irrespective of any political parties and keep the mafia dons, private money lenders and those who have been to jails at bay.
Minister S.R Mahesh should have had the common sense on how to behave with Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who visited flood hit Kodagu district recently. He should learn it first, he justified the union minister.
BJP leaders MB Nandish, KP Mahesh, Jayasimha Rao, Shantaraju, Banashankari Babu, MS Chandrashekar, Umesh, G Ganesh, K Harish, Madan Singh and others were present.
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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.
