NEW DELHI — Parliament early Friday approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after the Rajya Sabha gave its nod to the contentious legislation following an over 13-hour debate. The discussion witnessed staunch objections from opposition parties, which termed the Bill “anti-Muslim” and “unconstitutional” with the government responding that the “historic reform” would benefit the minority […]
SRINAGAR — Speaker of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Abdul Rahim Rather on Thursday said the Waqf Amendment Bill is violative of the Constitution’s freedom of religion and an “unnecessary interference” in religious matters of Muslims. “You saw more than 200 MPs opposed the Bill in the Lok Sabha because this Bill is a violation of […]
SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will chair an important meeting of legislators of the ruling National Conference and alliance partners here on Friday. While the agenda of the meeting has not been stated, sources in the National Conference said the ruling alliance is not happy with the transfer of some Jammu […]
JAMMU — The Congress on Thursday criticised Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s decision to order transfer of middle and lower-rung officers in the Union Territory, saying the latter should have awaited the approval of business rules before announcing his decision. In a move seen by many as an attempt to take full control […]
NEW DELHI — The Lok Sabha early Thursday passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after over a 12-hour debate, which saw the ruling NDA strongly defending the legislation as beneficial for minorities, while the opposition describing it as “anti-Muslim”. The Bill was passed after all amendments moved by the opposition members were rejected by […]
SRINAGAR — Political parties in Kashmir on Wednesday opposed the amendments made to the Waqf Act saying it was an interference in religious matters and an attempt to disempower Muslims. Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday tabled the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to improve the functioning […]
HYDERABAD — Coming down heavily on the NDA government in the Centre over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday alleged that the bill should be called a ‘looters (amendment) law’ as the BJP-led regime wants to take away waqf properties. Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s reported remarks that one […]
JAMMU — The Election Commission of India has announced a special summary revision of voter lists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Nagrota and Budgam assembly constituencies where bye-elections are due shortly. The revision will be based on April 1, 2025, as the qualifying date, ahead of the upcoming bye-elections, said a notification issued by the Election […]
SRINAGAR — Scores of youth activists on Wednesday joined the BJP in the Zadibal Assembly constituency of Jammu and Kashmir. “More than hundred prominent activists and youths from Zadibal joined the BJP in the presence of Sat Sharma, president, J&K BJP, and Ashok Koul, general secretary (organisation),” a BJP spokesperson said. Sharma and Koul welcomed […]
JAMMU — The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday passed the budget for 2025-26 with a voice vote, approving the appropriation bill to enable the government to utilise Rs 1.40 lakh crore from the Union Territory’s consolidated fund for the upcoming fiscal. The appropriation bill is crucial as it allows the government to withdraw […]