Bharatiya Janata Party member Nishikant Dubey has called for an investigation into the source of nearly 1.25 crore feedback submissions received by the parliamentary committee scrutinising the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in India. Dubey has raised concerns about the possible involvement of foreign powers like Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and China, as well as fundamentalist organizations and individuals like Zakir Naik. He has expressed the need for immediate attention to the geographical origin of these submissions and emphasized on the importance of preserving the integrity and independence of India's legislative process.
BJP Member Raises Concerns over Massive Feedback on Waqf Bill, Calls for Investigation
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Nishikant Dubey has raised suspicion over the source of nearly 1.25 crore feedback submissions received by the parliamentary committee scrutinizing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in India. Dubey alleges that foreign powers and fringe organizations may be involved in influencing the legislative process.
Background
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, introduced in Parliament in 2021, seeks to give greater authority to the government in regulating and administering Waqf properties, which are lands and assets dedicated to Muslim religious and charitable purposes. The bill has faced opposition from Muslim organizations, who argue that it infringes on religious freedom and Wakf autonomy.
Concerns Raised
Dubey has expressed concerns that the massive number of feedback submissions, which were received through an online portal, may have been manipulated or coordinated by external entities. He points to the possibility of involvement by foreign intelligence agencies like Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and China, as well as fundamentalist organizations like Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation.
Dubey has urged the parliamentary committee to investigate the geographical origin of the submissions and identify any patterns or suspicious activities. He emphasizes the need to preserve the integrity and independence of India's legislative process.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. What is a Waqf?
A Waqf is an Islamic property or asset dedicated to religious and charitable purposes, such as mosques, schools, hospitals, and orphanages. Waqf properties are managed by trustees and protected under the law.
2. What is the Waqf (Amendment) Bill?
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill proposes to amend the existing Waqf Act of 1995. It gives the government greater authority over the administration of Waqf properties, including the ability to appoint and remove trustees, regulate financial transactions, and audit accounts.
3. Why has the bill been opposed?
Muslim organizations argue that the bill infringes on religious freedom and undermines the autonomy of Waqf institutions. They fear that the government will have excessive control over Waqf properties and use them for non-religious purposes.
4. What are the allegations of foreign interference?
BJP member Nishikant Dubey has alleged that the massive feedback on the Waqf Bill may have been influenced by foreign powers like Pakistan's ISI and China, as well as fundamentalist organizations like Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation.
5. What is the next step?
The parliamentary committee is expected to consider the feedback received and make recommendations on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. Dubey has called for an investigation into the source of the submissions before the committee finalizes its report.
In the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Congress faced a major defeat in direct contests with the BJP, winning only 10 out of 75 seats. This is a significant decline from their performance in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year. The BJP's average vote share per seat contested rose by 6 percentage points, while the Congress saw a decline of 14 percentage points. In some key constituencies, the Congress finished in fourth place, highlighting the immediate need for the party to reassess its strategies and connect with the voting public.
In a surprising turn of events, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance has emerged victorious in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, securing a record-breaking 234 out of 288 seats. With the BJP coming out as the single largest party, winning 132 seats on its own, all eyes are now on who will be the Chief Minister of the state. The ruling alliance's stunning win has left Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar's NCP far behind, with only 57 and 10 seats respectively. As celebrations break out in the winning camps, the people of Maharashtra eagerly await the next CM's announcement.
The INDI Alliance, led by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's (JMM) Hemant Soren, secured a clear victory with 56 seats in the Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024. The alliance's biggest partner, JMM, bagged 34 seats while Congress and RJD received 16 and 4 seats respectively. On the other hand, BJP-led NDA fell short with only 24 out of 81 assembly seats, out of which BJP alone won 21. The Jharkhand assembly elections were held in two phases and a total of 1,211 candidates were in the electoral race.
Despite initial confidence in the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance's victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut retracts statement and claims the results are not acceptable. This comes as the alliance struggles to maintain their lead against the MahaYuti alliance. In response, BJP Minister Chandrakant Patil extends an invitation to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to rejoin the MahaYuti, stating their comfortable position in forming the next government. The decision for the next chief minister will be made by the top leadership of the BJP and MahaYuti.
The ruling Mahayuti alliance is set for their third straight term in Maharashtra as they lead with 234 seats. PM Modi has praised their victory, while CM Eknath Shinde and Dy CM Ajit Pawar express their gratitude to the people. Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc is leading with 56 seats in Jharkhand, with JMM's Hemant and Kalpana Soren emerging as winners. In Maharashtra, BJP has won 125 seats, Shiv Sena has won 55, and NCP has won 40, while in Jharkhand, the BJP has won 24. Despite some internal disputes, the alliance has come out victorious with a strong lead in both states.
Aaditya and Amit Thackeray, political cousins in Maharashtra, have had varied outcomes in the latest assembly elections. While Aaditya managed to win a second term with thanks to his uncle's influence, Amit lost out on his maiden polls and can attribute some of the loss to his own uncle's decision. This highlights the complicated family politics at play in India and the impact it has on election results. The strongholds of Worli and Mahim saw three-way contests, with the MNS's entry proving to be a game-changer. The close margins highlight that a direct face-off between Aaditya and rival Milind Deora or between Mahesh Sawant and Eknath Shinde Sena can produce different results.
In a historic victory, Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his party registered a stunning win in the Jharkhand Assembly Elections, securing 56 out of the 81 seats. Their landslide victory was attributed to the popularity of schemes like Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana, which provided financial assistance to rural women voters. Soren, who faced corruption charges and was released on bail, has vowed to transform the state into a "golden Jharkhand" and continue with the coalition government.
The Maharashtra Assembly Election Results 2024 are in, and the incumbent Mahayuti alliance, led by Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde, is poised for another victory. With a lead over the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, the Mahayuti looks set for a landslide win. Follow WION's website for the latest coverage on the election, and read on to find out what Prime Minister Modi has to say about the NDA's victory.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Priyanka Gandhi secured a convincing victory in the Wayanad constituency, surpassing her brother Rahul Gandhi's victory margin in the same seat earlier that year. Despite attempts by rivals to discredit Rahul, Priyanka's victory felt like an "annihilation" for them. This victory shows the unwavering support for the Gandhi family in Wayanad and their dominance in Indian politics.
In the recent Maharashtra Assembly polls, the Congress-NCP alliance leads in almost 80% of the seats, while the MNS party fails to secure even a single seat. NDA also wins big in Assembly bye-elections, with Trinamool Congress sweeping West Bengal. The Indian media's coverage of the violence in Canada has raised questions about its alignment with Hindutva ideology.