CM Siddaramaiah to flag off free bus services to women on Monday afternoon
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will dedicate to the state one of the Congress government’s flagship schemes among the 5 guarantees, “The Shakthi” scheme which provides free travel to women in state owned buses, on June 11 at 1 PM. Women from across the state will be able to travel free in buses following the official inauguration of the scheme on Monday.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister held a meeting at his government residence ‘Krishna’ to discuss the inauguration of the ‘Shakthi’ and ‘Annabhagya’ Schemes, one of the major projects of the Congress government.
According to an official, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will launch the Shakti Yojana to provide free bus travel facility to women under the 5 guarantee schemes announced in the election manifesto on June 11, and women will be able to avail this facility after 1 pm on that day.
The CM on this occasion will also unveil the logo of the project and will inaugurate a smart card model.
ALSO READ: Will review law banning cow slaughter, amendment to Land Reforms Act, APMC Act: CM Siddaramaiah
Meanwhile, in district headquarters the scheme will be launched by the respective Minister-in-charge of the districts.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Chief Minister's Political Secretary Govindaraju, Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma, Chief Minister's Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Rajneesh Goyal, were present in the meeting.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Muslim Personal Law Board urges MPs to oppose Waqf Amendment Bill
New Delhi: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has strongly opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 and has appealed to all secular political parties, including allies of the ruling BJP, to reject it in Parliament. The bill is set to be presented on April 2, Wednesday and the Board has urged Members of Parliament (MPs) not to support it “under any circumstances.”
The President of AIMPLB, Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, called the proposed amendment unfair and unconstitutional, stating that it violates Articles 14, 25, and 26 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee equality and religious freedom.
According to him, the bill is part of a larger plan to weaken Waqf laws and make it easier for government authorities to seize Waqf properties.
He pointed out that, despite the existence of the Places of Worship Act, there is a growing trend of questioning the religious identity of mosques. If the amendment is passed, he warned, government officials such as Collectors and District Magistrates will have greater power to take control of Waqf properties. This, he said, could lead to an increase in illegal claims on these lands.
The Board President highlighted several key changes in the bill that he believes would harm the Waqf system. These include the removal of Waqf by-user, the lifting of exemptions from the Law of Limitation, and the inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council.
Additionally, he criticized the proposed reduction in the powers of the Waqf Tribunal and the shift of dispute resolution to government officials rather than the Tribunal. He argued that these changes would strip Waqf properties of their legal protection and open the door for government control.
He also pointed out that similar legal protections exist for religious endowments of other communities, and targeting only Muslim Waqf properties would be discriminatory.
Maulana Rahmani expressed concern that such actions threaten India’s tradition of communal harmony and mutual respect between Hindus and Muslims. He stated, “our country is globally recognized for Hindu-Muslim brotherhood and for mutual respect for each other's religions, customs and festivals. However, unfortunately, the power of the nation is currently in the hands of those who seek to destroy this atmosphere of communal harmony and create anarchy and chaos.”
In his appeal, he urged MPs to stand with the Muslim community and oppose the bill, stating that millions of Muslims across India are counting on them to protect their rights.
