Modi administration enhances military capabilities through substantial capital investment

 

Modi administration enhances military capabilities through substantial capital investment

The addition of Rafale-M jets will strengthen the Indian Navy's capabilities on aircraft carriers, while the new submarines will bolster security in the Indian Ocean area. 

This month, the Narendra Modi administration is anticipated to approve the purchase of 26 Rafale-Maritime strike jets, continuing its pattern of increased capital expenditures on defense assets. For the fiscal year 2024-25, the NDA government allocated over ₹2 lakh crore for this purpose. 

It has been reported that the $7.6 billion fighter aircraft procurement will be presented to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) later this month, and this will precede the government's endorsement of three additional diesel-electric submarines after aligning all parties involved. The Rafale-M jets will serve to enhance the Indian Navy's effectiveness at sea aboard India's two aircraft carriers, while the extra submarines will provide stronger conventional deterrence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). 

In the fiscal year 2024-2025, the defense ministry signed 193 agreements totaling ₹209059.85 crore, compared to 192 agreements amounting to ₹104855.92 crore in 2023-2024. Since taking office in 2014, the Narendra Modi government has entered into 1096 agreements with a combined value of nearly ₹10 (₹946225.48) lakh crore.

Waqf Up Call: An Essential Conclusion to Abuses Masked as Religious Trusts

Waqf Up Call: An Essential Conclusion to Abuses Masked as Religious Trusts
Waqf Up Call: An Essential Conclusion to Abuses Masked as Religious Trusts
Waqf Up Call: An Essential Conclusion to Abuses Masked as Religious Trusts

 

Waqf Up Call: An Essential Conclusion to Abuses Masked as Religious Trusts

A comprehensive overhaul of the waqf laws in India brings to an end years of unregulated dominions—marked by mismanagement, control by the privileged, and a lack of transparency—for management founded on legal principles, fairness, and accountability. 

Picture a vast area of land, exceeding the size of Goa, dedicated to serving the needs of one of the economically marginalized communities in India.

Now envision that this resource, valued at more than ₹1.2 lakh crore and encompassing 8.7 lakh properties, is enveloped in secrecy, poorly managed by self-interested elites, and unlawfully encroached upon, while millions of Indian Muslims face barriers to education, healthcare, and economic advancement.

This is not a mere hypothetical situation but the unfortunate truth of Waqf governance in India—a system that has historically functioned with limited accountability under the outdated and seriously flawed Waqf Act of 1995.

The approval of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, by both Houses of Parliament marks a significant step in addressing this long-ignored aspect of governance and acts as a clear call for reform, transparency, and fair access to community assets.

The discussion regarding Waqf reform should not be simplified to issues of religious belief or identity politics, as at its essence lies a crucial governance question: should an organization overseeing such a vast collection of public-interest properties be exempt from contemporary regulatory standards, judicial review, and mechanisms for democratic oversight?

The Fundamental Issues of the Waqf Act, 1995

The Waqf Act, 1995, which emerged from the Congress government's enduring strategy of appeasement, has solidified a system characterized by obscurity, ineffectiveness, and legal manipulation that contradicts both constitutional values and basic principles of justice.

One of the most prominent issues with the Act is its lack of clarity, particularly highlighted in Section 40, which allows Waqf Boards to unilaterally designate any property as waqf without requiring substantial evidence or independent evaluation.

This clause has led to legal anomalies, with Waqf Boards claiming rights over both public and private properties without any historical or legal justification. The Tamil Nadu Waqf Board’s bold claim to ownership of a 1,500-year-old Hindu temple and the Uttar Pradesh Waqf Board’s assertion over Chandrashekhar Azad Park, a significant public area, exemplify the arbitrary and unchecked authority granted to these organizations.

Such occurrences underscore the lack of procedural protections and the indiscriminate expansion of waqf assets at the expense of wider societal interests.

In addition to its structural opacity, the Act established a governance structure that permits elite manipulation and exclusionary decision-making.

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April 05, 2025 at 11:08AM
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April 05, 2025 at 11:13AM
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April 05, 2025 at 12:13PM

Waqf Up Call: An Essential Conclusion to Abuses Masked as Religious Trusts

Waqf Up Call: An Essential Conclusion to Abuses Masked as Religious Trusts
Waqf Up Call: An Essential Conclusion to Abuses Masked as Religious Trusts

 

Waqf Up Call: An Essential Conclusion to Abuses Masked as Religious Trusts

A comprehensive overhaul of the waqf laws in India brings to an end years of unregulated dominions—marked by mismanagement, control by the privileged, and a lack of transparency—for management founded on legal principles, fairness, and accountability. 

Picture a vast area of land, exceeding the size of Goa, dedicated to serving the needs of one of the economically marginalized communities in India.

Now envision that this resource, valued at more than ₹1.2 lakh crore and encompassing 8.7 lakh properties, is enveloped in secrecy, poorly managed by self-interested elites, and unlawfully encroached upon, while millions of Indian Muslims face barriers to education, healthcare, and economic advancement.

This is not a mere hypothetical situation but the unfortunate truth of Waqf governance in India—a system that has historically functioned with limited accountability under the outdated and seriously flawed Waqf Act of 1995.

The approval of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, by both Houses of Parliament marks a significant step in addressing this long-ignored aspect of governance and acts as a clear call for reform, transparency, and fair access to community assets.

The discussion regarding Waqf reform should not be simplified to issues of religious belief or identity politics, as at its essence lies a crucial governance question: should an organization overseeing such a vast collection of public-interest properties be exempt from contemporary regulatory standards, judicial review, and mechanisms for democratic oversight?

The Fundamental Issues of the Waqf Act, 1995

The Waqf Act, 1995, which emerged from the Congress government's enduring strategy of appeasement, has solidified a system characterized by obscurity, ineffectiveness, and legal manipulation that contradicts both constitutional values and basic principles of justice.

One of the most prominent issues with the Act is its lack of clarity, particularly highlighted in Section 40, which allows Waqf Boards to unilaterally designate any property as waqf without requiring substantial evidence or independent evaluation.

This clause has led to legal anomalies, with Waqf Boards claiming rights over both public and private properties without any historical or legal justification. The Tamil Nadu Waqf Board’s bold claim to ownership of a 1,500-year-old Hindu temple and the Uttar Pradesh Waqf Board’s assertion over Chandrashekhar Azad Park, a significant public area, exemplify the arbitrary and unchecked authority granted to these organizations.

Such occurrences underscore the lack of procedural protections and the indiscriminate expansion of waqf assets at the expense of wider societal interests.

In addition to its structural opacity, the Act established a governance structure that permits elite manipulation and exclusionary decision-making.

via Blogger https://ift.tt/GhBPS1o
April 05, 2025 at 11:08AM
via Blogger https://ift.tt/LSUjqcF
April 05, 2025 at 11:13AM

Waqf Up Call: An Essential Conclusion to Abuses Masked as Religious Trusts

Waqf Up Call: An Essential Conclusion to Abuses Masked as Religious Trusts

 

Waqf Up Call: An Essential Conclusion to Abuses Masked as Religious Trusts

A comprehensive overhaul of the waqf laws in India brings to an end years of unregulated dominions—marked by mismanagement, control by the privileged, and a lack of transparency—for management founded on legal principles, fairness, and accountability. 

Picture a vast area of land, exceeding the size of Goa, dedicated to serving the needs of one of the economically marginalized communities in India.

Now envision that this resource, valued at more than ₹1.2 lakh crore and encompassing 8.7 lakh properties, is enveloped in secrecy, poorly managed by self-interested elites, and unlawfully encroached upon, while millions of Indian Muslims face barriers to education, healthcare, and economic advancement.

This is not a mere hypothetical situation but the unfortunate truth of Waqf governance in India—a system that has historically functioned with limited accountability under the outdated and seriously flawed Waqf Act of 1995.

The approval of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, by both Houses of Parliament marks a significant step in addressing this long-ignored aspect of governance and acts as a clear call for reform, transparency, and fair access to community assets.

The discussion regarding Waqf reform should not be simplified to issues of religious belief or identity politics, as at its essence lies a crucial governance question: should an organization overseeing such a vast collection of public-interest properties be exempt from contemporary regulatory standards, judicial review, and mechanisms for democratic oversight?

The Fundamental Issues of the Waqf Act, 1995

The Waqf Act, 1995, which emerged from the Congress government's enduring strategy of appeasement, has solidified a system characterized by obscurity, ineffectiveness, and legal manipulation that contradicts both constitutional values and basic principles of justice.

One of the most prominent issues with the Act is its lack of clarity, particularly highlighted in Section 40, which allows Waqf Boards to unilaterally designate any property as waqf without requiring substantial evidence or independent evaluation.

This clause has led to legal anomalies, with Waqf Boards claiming rights over both public and private properties without any historical or legal justification. The Tamil Nadu Waqf Board’s bold claim to ownership of a 1,500-year-old Hindu temple and the Uttar Pradesh Waqf Board’s assertion over Chandrashekhar Azad Park, a significant public area, exemplify the arbitrary and unchecked authority granted to these organizations.

Such occurrences underscore the lack of procedural protections and the indiscriminate expansion of waqf assets at the expense of wider societal interests.

In addition to its structural opacity, the Act established a governance structure that permits elite manipulation and exclusionary decision-making.

via Blogger https://ift.tt/GhBPS1o
April 05, 2025 at 11:08AM

Waqf Up Call: An Essential Conclusion to Abuses Masked as Religious Trusts

 

Waqf Up Call: An Essential Conclusion to Abuses Masked as Religious Trusts

A comprehensive overhaul of the waqf laws in India brings to an end years of unregulated dominions—marked by mismanagement, control by the privileged, and a lack of transparency—for management founded on legal principles, fairness, and accountability. 

Picture a vast area of land, exceeding the size of Goa, dedicated to serving the needs of one of the economically marginalized communities in India.

Now envision that this resource, valued at more than ₹1.2 lakh crore and encompassing 8.7 lakh properties, is enveloped in secrecy, poorly managed by self-interested elites, and unlawfully encroached upon, while millions of Indian Muslims face barriers to education, healthcare, and economic advancement.

This is not a mere hypothetical situation but the unfortunate truth of Waqf governance in India—a system that has historically functioned with limited accountability under the outdated and seriously flawed Waqf Act of 1995.

The approval of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, by both Houses of Parliament marks a significant step in addressing this long-ignored aspect of governance and acts as a clear call for reform, transparency, and fair access to community assets.

The discussion regarding Waqf reform should not be simplified to issues of religious belief or identity politics, as at its essence lies a crucial governance question: should an organization overseeing such a vast collection of public-interest properties be exempt from contemporary regulatory standards, judicial review, and mechanisms for democratic oversight?

The Fundamental Issues of the Waqf Act, 1995

The Waqf Act, 1995, which emerged from the Congress government's enduring strategy of appeasement, has solidified a system characterized by obscurity, ineffectiveness, and legal manipulation that contradicts both constitutional values and basic principles of justice.

One of the most prominent issues with the Act is its lack of clarity, particularly highlighted in Section 40, which allows Waqf Boards to unilaterally designate any property as waqf without requiring substantial evidence or independent evaluation.

This clause has led to legal anomalies, with Waqf Boards claiming rights over both public and private properties without any historical or legal justification. The Tamil Nadu Waqf Board’s bold claim to ownership of a 1,500-year-old Hindu temple and the Uttar Pradesh Waqf Board’s assertion over Chandrashekhar Azad Park, a significant public area, exemplify the arbitrary and unchecked authority granted to these organizations.

Such occurrences underscore the lack of procedural protections and the indiscriminate expansion of waqf assets at the expense of wider societal interests.

In addition to its structural opacity, the Act established a governance structure that permits elite manipulation and exclusionary decision-making.

Reasons Hamas Might Now Embrace a Deal It Once Rejected

 

Reasons Hamas Might Now Embrace a Deal It Once Rejected

In recent weeks, protests against Hamas have surfaced, driven by anger related to the conflict, economic struggles, and oppression.

There is increasing evidence that Hamas is gearing up to agree to a limited pact that it had previously turned down—this arrangement would facilitate the release of numerous Israeli hostages, both alive and deceased, in exchange for a temporary truce, the liberation of Palestinian detainees, enhanced humanitarian aid deliveries, and a revitalized structure for wider discussions. What has prompted this shift?

Several reasons have aligned to compel Hamas to reassess its position.

To begin with, the Israel Defense Forces have astonished Hamas with innovative and more effective strategies on the battlefield. The militant organization, taken by surprise and unable to respond swiftly, requires time and space to reorganize. A truce would provide just that—an operational break to reinforce its defenses and readjust its strategies.

Moreover, Hamas’s hold on authority is closely linked to its management of aid distribution and essential resources in Gaza. The group has historically capitalized on humanitarian aid to bolster its power, rewarding loyalty and penalizing opposition. A deal would facilitate essential shipments, assisting Hamas in maintaining internal order and replenishing dwindling resources.

Additionally, external pressures are intensifying. Egypt and Qatar, both of whom have long engaged with the group, are reportedly pressing Hamas to accept an agreement. Their renewed efforts are influenced by the Trump administration, which has escalated the stakes by cautioning regional stakeholders that ongoing conflict undermines broader U.S. strategic goals.

Lastly—and perhaps most critically for Hamas—there is increasing discontent within Gaza itself. Recent weeks have seen protests against Hamas fueled by dissatisfaction with the war, economic difficulties, and oppression. There are signs that these demonstrations may not be entirely spontaneous, possibly encouraged by outside players aiming to weaken the group's control. Hamas has a strong motivation to buy time and address these internal challenges before they escalate.

Turning point': PM Narendra Modi as Parliament approves Waqf Amendment Bill

 

'Turning point': PM Narendra Modi as Parliament approves Waqf Amendment Bill

PM Modi praised the approval of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill as a significant development for social and economic fairness.

Shortly after the Rajya Sabha voted on the debated Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to it as a “turning point,” stating that these laws will assist underserved communities that have lacked representation and access.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also thanked the Parliament members and those who provided suggestions to the Joint Parliamentary Committee tasked with recommending changes to the bill.

In an extensive message on X (previously Twitter), Modi stated, “The approval of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill by both Houses of Parliament signifies a turning point in our common effort towards social and economic fairness, accountability, and inclusive development. This will especially benefit individuals who have been marginalized for too long, thus lacking both representation and opportunity.”

“I am grateful to all Parliament members who took part in the discussions and committee meetings, shared their views, and helped enhance these laws. A special acknowledgment goes to the many individuals who offered their valuable thoughts to the Parliamentary committee. Once more, the significance of thorough discussion and dialogue has been confirmed,” he continued.