"Some Cry Without Any Reason": PM Modi Challenges MK Stalin Regarding Central Funding

"Some Cry Without Any Reason": PM Modi Challenges MK Stalin Regarding Central Funding

"The development of Tamil Nadu's infrastructure is a high priority for the administration," stated PM Narendra Modi.

While inaugurating the Pamban bridge in Tamil Nadu today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ridiculed the Opposition, likening them to individuals who weep for no apparent reason. In light of Chief Minister MK Stalin's grievances concerning delimitation and the matter of the third language, PM Modi emphasized that the funding for the state's rail initiatives has increased almost sevenfold.

"The development of Tamil Nadu's infrastructure is a high priority for the administration... Prior to 2014, Tamil Nadu only received Rs 900 crore annually for rail initiatives, and everyone knows who was leading the INDI Alliance back then. Currently, the state's rail budget exceeds Rs 6000 crore," he remarked amidst claims of insufficient funding allocations.

He also mentioned that the government is upgrading 77 railway stations, including the one located in Rameswaram.

Highlighting the Centre's contributions in another sector, he commented, "In the last decade, significant advancements have been achieved on rural roads and highways under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana."

"Since 2014, with the support of the central government, approximately 4,000 km of roads have been constructed in Tamil Nadu," he noted further.

Chief Minister Stalin has continuously accused the Centre of trying to undermine the southern states politically through delimitation and culturally through the three-language formula. He argued that the Centre indicated that it would withhold funds from the state if it did not adhere to the National Education Policy.

Nonetheless, these were not the points PM Modi addressed. Instead, he criticized Tamil Nadu's leaders for signing documents in English rather than Tamil and challenged the state to implement medical education in Tamil. 

When Prime Minister Modi opened the Pamban bridge, Mr. Stalin did not attend, opting instead to launch a government-operated medical college located in the Nilgiris. In his speech today, he insisted that the central government must ensure the current number of MPs in parliament remains unchanged.

"I would like to request PM Modi to address the legitimate concerns of Tamil Nadu during this meeting. The Prime Minister should assure us from Tamil Nadu’s soil that the number and percentage of MPs in states that have managed their population will be maintained," he stated, calling for a constitutional change regarding this issue.

In the previous two general elections, the BJP has been unsuccessful in gaining any seats in Tamil Nadu. Now that it has lost its majority in parliament and faces challenges with coalition politics at the center, the party is seeking new opportunities for growth in other states. With many northern states already filled to capacity, the party is now looking towards the southern region.

Modi administration enhances military capabilities through substantial capital investment

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.

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April 05, 2025 at 03:36PM

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.