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Delhi BJP Rallies Behind Waqf Amendment Bill Amid Opposition Backlash

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Delhi BJP Rallies Behind Waqf Amendment Bill Amid Opposition Backlash 2

The Delhi BJP staged a demonstration at Vijay Chowk and Rail Bhawan on Wednesday in a show of support for the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which is set for discussion and passage in the Lok Sabha. Led by Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, party members held placards reading, “Thank you, Modi, for ensuring a share for backward Muslims in the Waqf Bill.”

Addressing the gathering, Sachdeva defended the bill, stating that it aims to empower underprivileged Muslims and safeguard their legal rights. He questioned why opposition parties were resisting a measure designed for the welfare of the community.

The bill introduces significant amendments to the 1995 Wakf Act, including ensuring representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in Waqf boards. It seeks to remove Section 40, which grants boards the authority to determine if a property qualifies as Waqf property. Additionally, it proposes the formation of a separate board for Boharas and Aghakhanis, along with representation for Shias, Sunnis, and backward Muslim communities.

The legislation, if passed, will rename the existing act as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 1995.

With eight hours allotted for debate in the Lok Sabha, the government remains determined to pass the bill, while opposition parties stand united in denouncing it as unconstitutional. The Rajya Sabha is expected to take up the bill on Thursday, setting the stage for a heated political showdown.

CPI(M) Declares War on Waqf Bill, BJP Launches Statewide Protests

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CPI(M) Declares War on Waqf Bill, BJP Launches Statewide Protests 4

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has firmly opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill proposed by the NDA government, declaring that its MPs will vote against it in Parliament. The party’s stance has sparked fresh political friction, especially in Kerala, where the Catholic Church has criticized MPs for their position on the controversial bill.

CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan reaffirmed the party’s opposition while speaking at the 24th party congress in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. He dismissed concerns raised by the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC), stating that external influences would not sway the CPI(M)’s stand. “Let there be no doubt, we will take a stand against the Waqf Bill. We have already made our stand clear. We do not keep changing our stand based on what others are saying. We have a clear stand,” Govindan asserted.

Meanwhile, the BJP in Kerala announced statewide protests, including marches to the residences of INDIA bloc MPs, condemning their opposition to the Waqf Bill. The bill, set to be tabled in Parliament, has triggered heated debates, with Govindan alleging that it does not protect Waqf properties but instead opposes them. He further claimed that some forces were deliberately stoking communal tensions over the issue.

Adding to the controversy, Church-run daily Deepika recently described the Waqf Amendment Bill as a critical test of secularism in Parliament. The editorial warned Kerala MPs that opposing the bill would align them with religious fundamentalism, while supporting it would rectify injustices affecting Hindus, Christians, and Muslims under existing Waqf laws.

Opposition parties, however, have slammed the bill as “unconstitutional” and detrimental to the Muslim community. Several Muslim organizations have been actively rallying against the legislation, which underwent scrutiny by a Joint Committee of Parliament before receiving multiple amendments.

Maharashtra Offers 15% Tax Rebate for Scrapping Old Vehicles

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ANI
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Maharashtra Offers 15% Tax Rebate for Scrapping Old Vehicles 6

In a bid to promote vehicle scrappage and curb pollution, the Maharashtra cabinet has approved a 15% tax concession for vehicle owners who voluntarily scrap their old vehicles while purchasing a new one of the same type. The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday.

According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), a 10% tax concession will be provided to transport vehicles voluntarily scrapped within eight years of registration at a Registered Vehicle Scrappage Facility (RVSF) and to non-transport vehicles scrapped within 15 years of registration.

A 15% tax concession will apply to transport and non-transport vehicles subject to lump sum tax. For vehicles under annual taxation, the rebate will be applicable for the next eight years from the date of registration in the transport category and for the next 15 years for non-transport vehicles.

Owners will receive a Certificate of Deposit after scrapping their vehicle at an RVSF, which will remain valid for two years to avail of the tax concession. This relief will apply to registering the same type of vehicle—two-wheeler, three-wheeler, or light motor vehicle—after purchase. The scheme will be available for vehicles voluntarily scrapped within three years from the date of notification publication.

Mumbai Braces for Stormy Weather: IMD Issues Orange and Yellow Alerts

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Mumbai Braces for Stormy Weather: IMD Issues Orange and Yellow Alerts 8

Mumbai witnessed light showers on Tuesday evening, offering brief relief from the oppressive heat. Areas like Chembur, Matunga, and Wadala experienced drizzle as temperatures soared earlier in the day. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded a maximum temperature of 33.5°C at Colaba and a sweltering 37.7°C at Santacruz.

In a significant weather update, the IMD has issued yellow and orange alerts for almost the entire state on Wednesday, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and squalls. Except for Solapur, all districts in Maharashtra are on alert, with 13 districts under an orange warning. These include Satara, Nashik, Pune, Ahilyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar), Beed, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Amravati, Akola, Yavatmal, Bhandara, Chandrapur, and Gondia.

Meanwhile, Mumbai, along with Palghar, Thane, and Raigad, falls under the IMD’s yellow alert, cautioning residents about thunderstorms, lightning, and light to moderate rainfall. While a yellow alert signifies moderate to severe weather conditions, an orange alert urges preparedness for potential disruptions.

With unpredictable weather looming, citizens are advised to stay updated and take necessary precautions against sudden storms and downpours.

2020 Delhi Riots: Court Orders FIR Against Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra, Others

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ANI
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2020 Delhi Riots: Court Orders FIR Against Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra, Others 10

A Delhi court on Tuesday ordered an FIR against Delhi cabinet minister Kapil Mishra and others to investigate his alleged role in 2020 Delhi riots.

Additional chief judicial magistrate Vaibhav Chaurasia found a “prime facie” cognisable offence, requiring a probe.

“It is clear that Mishra was in the area at the time of alleged offence… further probe required,” the judge said.

The judge was hearing arguments on a plea filed by a Yamuna Vihar resident Mohammad Ilyas, seeking registration of the FIR, which was opposed by Delhi Police, claiming Mishra had no role in the riots.

Delhi Power Crisis: AAP MLAs Demand Assembly Debate, Blame BJP for Outages

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Web Team
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Delhi Power Crisis: AAP MLAs Demand Assembly Debate, Blame BJP for Outages 12

AAP MLAs on Tuesday submitted notices to the Delhi Assembly secretary, demanding a discussion on the alleged power cuts affecting multiple areas in the city. Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha and MLA Kuldeep Kumar wrote to Delhi Power Minister Ashish Sood, highlighting prolonged outages that have impacted households, businesses, and essential services.

Jha specifically pointed to a blackout in Jagatpur village on March 28, stating that despite complaints, no immediate resolution was provided. He urged the minister to outline steps to prevent such disruptions in the future. Kumar, on the other hand, called for an adjournment motion to discuss the crisis in the Assembly, citing severe inconvenience to residents.

The power crisis has ignited a fierce political battle between AAP and the BJP. Senior AAP leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi accused the BJP-led administration of incompetence, questioning how power cuts returned within a month of their rule after a decade of uninterrupted supply. “This proves BJP lacks both the intent and the ability to govern Delhi,” she asserted.

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva hit back, calling uninterrupted power supply a fundamental duty of any government and accused AAP of corruption in power management. “Cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Bangalore have uninterrupted electricity. Even Uttar Pradesh has improved its power supply. Providing 24-hour electricity is a government’s responsibility, not a privilege,” he stated.

AAP national convenor and former CM Arvind Kejriwal also weighed in, expressing frustration over the outages. “We worked hard for 10 years to ensure uninterrupted electricity in Delhi. Within a month, they have destroyed the system,” he wrote on social media.

The debate unfolds amid the first budget session of Delhi’s eighth legislative assembly, with BJP having won 48 out of 70 seats in February, ending AAP’s decade-long rule and marking its return to power in the national capital after 27 years.

Pastor Bajinder Singh Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in 2018 Rape Case

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Web Team
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Pastor Bajinder Singh Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in 2018 Rape Case 14

A court in Punjab’s Mohali on Tuesday sentenced self-styled pastor Bajinder Singh to life imprisonment in a 2018 rape case.

The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Vikrant Kumar pronounced the verdict.

Bajinder was pronounced guilty on March 28 under sections 376 (rape), 323 (punishment for voluntary causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

The case was registered on a complaint filed by a woman at the Zirakpur police station in Mohali in 2018.

Tight security arrangements were made at the court complex before the pronouncement of the verdict on Tuesday.

China Launches Major Military Exercises Around Taiwan

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ANI
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China Launches Major Military Exercises Around Taiwan 16

China on Tuesday launched joint military exercises consisting of multiple forces around Taiwan as a “stern warning” against Taiwanese independence forces and to assert its sovereignty over it.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command on Tuesday started to conduct joint exercises around Taiwan Island, a spokesperson of the Command said.

The theatre command organised its army, navy, air and rocket forces to close in on Taiwan Island from multiple directions, said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, the spokesperson for the theatre command was quoted by state-run Xinhua news agency.

China, which claims Taiwan as part of its mainland, has conducted similar military exercises in the recent past, but this is the first major military exercise around Taiwan since US President Donald Trump assumed power for a second tenure.

According to Shi, these drills mainly focus on sea-air combat-readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, assault on maritime and ground targets, and blockade of key areas and sea lanes to test the joint operation capabilities of the troops.

The drills serve as a stern warning and forceful deterrent against “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, and are a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity, Shi said.

Naxal-Affected Districts Came Down From 12 to 6, Says Amit Shah

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Web Team
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Naxal-Affected Districts Came Down From 12 to 6, Says Amit Shah 18

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the Naxal issue is now confined to just six districts in the country, from the earlier 12.

Shah said the Modi government is building a ‘Sashakt, Surakshit and Samriddh Bharat’ with a ruthless approach to Naxalism and relentless efforts for all-pervasive development.

He said Bharat is determined to uproot Naxalism for good by March 31, 2026.

“Taking a giant stride towards building a Naxal-free Bharat, today our nation achieved a new milestone by significantly reducing the number of districts most affected by left-wing extremism to just 6 from 12,” Shah posted on microblogging site X.

As per the Union home ministry data, Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts are those where Naxal activities and violence still continue.

The LWE-affected districts have been further sub-categorised as ‘most-affected districts’, a terminology brought in in 2015, and ‘districts of concern’, which was coined by the home ministry in 2021.

There were 12 ‘most-affected districts’ according to the last review.

As per official records, there were 35 such districts in 2015, 30 in 2018 and 25 in 2021.

Fuel Ban for Overage Vehicles in Delhi Delayed Over Installation Issues

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ANI
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Fuel Ban for Overage Vehicles in Delhi Delayed Over Installation Issues 20

The Delhi government’s decision to deny fuel to overage vehicles at refill stations starting April 1 has been delayed, as the required devices have not yet been installed at all locations.

An official from the environmental department said the minister will announce the rollout once all installations are completed across the city.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa told PTI that the government was expediting the equipment installation to ensure a smooth transition.

A meeting is expected to be held tonight to assess the remaining work and determine the project timeline.

“We are trying to get it done at the earliest. Some locations still do not have the necessary installations, but we are working to ensure they are in place soon,” Sirsa said, adding that it is better to delay the rollout rather than start it without proper management.

Sirsa had at the beginning of March announced that the End-of-Life Vehicles would be denied fuel at refill stations across the capital starting April 1.

“We are ensuring that all fuel stations in Delhi have CCTV cameras that will determine the age of the vehicle based on the year of registration. Vehicles that do not meet the criteria will not be given fuel and will be penalised. The entire installation and software connection will be completed by March 31,” the minister had said while announcing the ban.

Sirsa now said it may take a few more days before all petrol stations and other locations are fully equipped. “We don’t want a situation where it starts in some locations while others remain unprepared. Our goal is total implementation.”

Meanwhile, Sirsa inaugurated sewer renovation and water line projects in Rajouri Garden, with Rs 1.5 crore allocated for water supply and Rs 50 lakh for road construction.

Drinking water is a major issue in the area, as many households lack access to clean water, he said.

“My priority is to ensure that every ward has access to clean drinking water, as our Prime Minister has also promised the people. We are actively working on this, along with addressing the sewage issue,” Sirsa said, adding that no water or sewage lines had been laid in the area for the past 10 years.

Sirsa was chosen as minister after being elected an MLA from west Delhi’s Rajouri Garden constituency.

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