DCM demands Rs 100 crore from centre
Kodagu disaster
Madikeri, August 20: Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi who announced Rs 500 crore to Kerala, should give at least Rs 100 crore in the first phase to Kodagu district to take up relief works.
Expressing his displeasure that no Union Ministers have visited the flood affected Kodagu district, Parameshwar said that more than 5,000 houses were damaged completely in the devastation. But the state government was with the Kodagu people. The state government was expecting at least Rs 100 crore for taking up relief works in Kodagu, he said.
The DCM who visited the district went to relief camps and consoled the people. Later, speaking to reporters, he said that the state government has taken the disaster seriously. Though it was confirmed that seven people were died in the incident, several others might be under the debris and died. The affected people would be given new houses, he said.
So far it was not possible to estimate the loss of properties. Many villages do not have road connectivity due to which, the officials were unable to assess the loss. It could be possible only after the rain stopped. Compared to last two days, today the situation is under control. The police personnel would give their one day salary of Rs 5.82 crore to the flood victims and fire brigade personnel would also given their one day salary. Total Rs 7 crore would be given to the flood victims, he said.
District Minister Sa Ra Mahesh, MLA Srinivas, ADGPs B Bhaskar Rao, Sunil Agarwal, deputy commissioner Srividya, SP Suman Pannekar and others were present.
Villagers rescued
Fire Brigade DGP MN Reddy said that all people who were trapped in Makkandur, Mukkodlu and other places were rescued. Even on Monday, soldiers have conducted rescue operation and all villagers who were facing the threat were rescued. Army’s rescue operation was successful, he said.
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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.
