In an effort to bring in significant investments and job opportunities to Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has been speaking with various companies to allow their employees to work from their hometowns. Naidu plans to transform vacant government buildings into work hubs, equipped with computers for employees to utilize. He also promised to usher in a digital revolution and restore damaged systems in the state, despite the challenging financial situation inherited from the previous YSR Congress regime.
The YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh, led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, has changed its stance on the controversial Waqf Bill, which has been a point of contention between the NDA government and the Opposition INDIA bloc. The YSRCP's opposition to the Bill is being seen as an attempt to win over the state's Muslim population and consolidate its base among religious minorities. The party, which was previously silent on the issue, has now taken a vocal stance against the Bill, stating that it goes against the interests of the community.
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya and editors of Kannada news portals have been booked for spreading false information about a farmer's suicide in Haveri district, Karnataka. Surya had shared an article on 'X' alleging the farmer's death was due to his land being taken over by the Waqf Board. The post was later deleted by the MP after the news was deemed fake by the district police. This incident has sparked a political controversy and raises questions about the responsibility of spreading news.
Senior BJP Leader M. P. Renukacharya has released a video implicating Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan and CM Siddaramaiah in an alleged plot to reclaim Waqf properties belonging to farmers and temples. This revelation comes amidst Congress' loss of credibility ahead of by-polls and the Chief Minister's ongoing controversies involving corruption and Muslim appeasement. Renukacharya has accused Zameer of being a "religious fanatic" and questioned his actions as a minister for minorities. Zameer, on the other hand, has claimed to be acting under the orders of CM Siddaramaiah, who has allegedly instructed him to conduct annual review meetings and visit every district to reclaim Waqf properties.
The Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra has accused the Congress government of conspiring to displace farmers in Vijayapura district. He states that the government has started issuing notices to farmers claiming their agricultural land belongs to the Waqf Board. This has caused outrage as generations of farming families are now at risk of losing their livelihood. The BJP leader slams the Congress for prioritizing appeasement politics over the welfare of farmers and vows to fight for justice.
A meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee discussing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill turned chaotic when Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee broke a glass bottle in response to an objection from a BJP MP. Banerjee has been suspended from the meeting for his behavior and opposition members walked out in protest. This is not the first instance of heated arguments over the contentious bill, leading to tension between ruling and opposition members.
Badruddin Ajmal, All India United Democratic Front Chief has stirred a political controversy by claiming that the new Parliament building may have been constructed on Waqf land. He has called for an investigation into the matter and expressed disapproval over the Waqf Bill, highlighting that all secular political parties have boycotted the Joint Parliamentary Committee formed to review the bill. Ajmal has announced that the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind will conduct a survey of Waqf Board lands in Assam to challenge the bill.
Shia cleric Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad and other community members staged a protest in Lucknow against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which aims to regulate and control the administration of waqf institutions and their properties. This bill has been met with controversy and has faced criticism from various religious and civic bodies, leading to ongoing protests. The history of waqf administration in India, from the pre-Independence period to the current amendment act of 2013, has been a topic of debate and discussion, with multiple recommendations made for better governance of these religious endowments.
The Telangana State Waqf Board has become the first board in the country to oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, which it deemed as unconstitutional. The board, led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, unanimously rejected the Bill and condemned its divisive agenda. The meeting also resolved to meet with the Joint Parliamentary Committee to present their opposition and concerns about the proposed amendments. They also expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for his support. The board believes that the Bill is an infringement on several constitutional rights and aims to destroy the autonomy of Waqf institutions.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has proposed the formation of a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to examine the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The committee, comprising 21 Lok Sabha members and 10 Rajya Sabha members, will be responsible for reviewing and assessing the proposed bill. Notably, prominent politicians such as AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress MP Imran Masood have been appointed to the committee.