Ready to give houses and education to Kodagu people: Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji
Madikeri, August 23: Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji of JSS Mutt of Mysuru said that the JSS institutions were ready to give the houses to the distressed people and education to their children in Kodagu.
After visiting Mukkodlu village and relief camps in the district on Thursday, the swamiji said that the JSS mutt would construct the houses for the distressed people and provide free education to the children of the affected people in its institutions. The institution would pick up the interested students from Madikeri, he added.
Due to sliding of the land, people were affected. Soil and stone do not have any emotions and they do not know any problems and knowledge. Only human being would experience the pain in such circumstances. Because of this, people across the state have been responding to the disaster happened in Kodagu and contributing materials. But the distressed people should take courage to face the future, the swamiji said.
A host of swamijis, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Kodagu unit secretary Balaji Kashyap 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.
