Mar 4: 233 new COVID-19 cases in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Mar 4: Karnataka on Friday registered 233 fresh coronavirus cases and six virus-related fatalities, taking the aggregate to 39,42,068 and the death toll to 39,985.
There were 648 discharges, pushing the total number of recoveries in the state to 38,98,576, a health bulletin said.
Of the new cases, 163 were from Bengaluru Urban that saw 331 people being discharged and 2 virus-related deaths.
The total number of active cases across the state stood at 3,469.
While the positivity rate for the day is 0.48 per cent, the case fatality rate (CFR) was 2.57 per cent.
Of the six deaths reported today, two were from Bengaluru Urban, and one each from Dharwad, Hassan, Tumakuru and Vijayapura.
After Bengaluru Urban, Mysuru recorded the second highest number of cases at nine, followed by Uttara Kannada and Shivamogga seven each, Kalaburagi, Tumakuru and Udupi five each, Belagavi and Kolar four each, followed by others.
Bengaluru Urban district now has a total of 17,79,180 cases, while Mysuru has 2,29,319 and Tumakuru 1,59,765.
Cumulatively, a total of 6,46,66,055 crore samples have been tested, of which 48,467 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.
