Sitharaman spars with Karnataka minister
Kodagu, Aug 24 : On a visit to the flood-affected areas in the district, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday sparred with Karnataka district-in-charge minister Sa Ra Mahesh after he asked her to end a press conference they were jointly addressing.
The episode took place after Mahesh asked Sitharaman to end the press conference citing lack of time and she retorted saying that she was following "minute-by-minute" the itinerary prepared by the district administration and she cannot be blamed for the delay.
"And the mic is on na... so record whatever you want," she is heard telling the media.
Sitharaman then asked a woman official to stop speaking and said "let the in-charge minister speak".
"Minute to minute programme, Minister... I am following that and if officials were important then my family is also very important. A central minister is following the minister in-charge. Unbelievable," she said.
You have the list of minute to minute to follow. If you had difference of opinion then you should have sorted this out before and not put me in an embarassing moment. I am doing as per your schedule," she is heard saying.
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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.
