Month: January 2025

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has approved 14 amendments to the Waqf Amendment Bill, despite strong objections from Opposition parties.

The JPC Chairperson, Jagdambika Pal, stated that the amendments were accepted based on a majority vote, with 16 members supporting the changes and 10 opposing them.

“44 amendments were discussed clause by clause. After detailed discussions over 6 months, we sought amendments from all members. This was our final meeting… So, 14 amendments have been accepted by the committee based on a majority. Opposition too had suggested amendments. We moved every one of those amendments & it was put to vote but 10 votes were supporting theirs (suggested amendments) and 16 votes opposing it,” the JPC Chairperson said.

The Waqf Amendment bill aims to overhaul the Waqf Act of 1995, which governs the management of Waqf properties in India. The bill has been a subject of controversy, with opposition parties alleging that it undermines the rights of Muslims and the federal structure of India.

After the meeting of the JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, one of its members – BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi said that the opposition members proposed amendments concerning 43 proposals of the government.

“JPC on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was held today in a very democratic manner. The Chairperson’s Jagdambika Pal tried to hear everybody out and gave sufficient time for everybody to move the amendment that everybody wished. There are 44 amendments to the Principal Act 1995 that had been proposed by the government and had been tabled before all of us to deliberate upon. 34 sittings have already taken place for deliberating on the entire matter. 108 hours have been dedicated to this job. More than 284 stakeholders have been consulted and their views have been given due importance,” Sarangi said.

“As far as today’s meeting is concerned, let me tell you that against these 44 amendments, the Opposition part MPs had proposed amendments concerning 43 proposals of the govt. As far as NDA MPs are concerned, they have moved 24 proposals. Every proposal moved either by the Opposition or the Ruling Party was put to debate and voting was done by raising of hand. The voting was mostly 10:16. There were 10 members and we were 16…Today also they started creating a ruckus and the entire Opposition team was led by Kalyan Banerjee…This particular Bill has been deliberated upon very extensively, very thoroughly. This committee had also gone to a couple of states to hear the organisations which have not been able to come to Delhi. So, I think the entire procedure has been done in a very democratic manner,” the BJP MP added.

BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal said that there was a clause-by-clause discussion in the meeting.

“Discussion took place on all clauses, and those who opposed did so, while those who supported also voiced their opinion. It is unfortunate that even on the clauses that were crucial for improving this bill, opposition was raised,” he said.

However, the Opposition party members criticised the JPC’s decision, alleging that they were not allowed to speak during the meeting and that the amendments were pushed through without proper discussion. The final draft report of the JPC is expected to be released on January 29.

Trinamool Congress Kalyan Banerjee said that Jagdambika Pal has destroyed democracy.

“Today, they did whatever they had fixed. They didn’t allow us to speak. No rules or procedures have been followed. Initially, we had asked for documents, representations and comments. All those things have not been supplied to us. They started clause-by clause discussion. We said, first let’s discuss. Jagdambika Pal did not allow discussion at all. He then brought in the Amendment Motion. We were not all allowed to speak in the Amendment Motion. He moved, counted and declared. All Amendments have been passed. Our Amendments have been rejected and theirs have been allowed. This was a farce proceeding. This is a black day of democracy…Jagdambika Pal is the greatest blacklister of democracy. He is a man who has destroyed democracy,” he said.

Congress MP Naseer Hussain claimed that most of the stakeholders who took part in the JPC meetings have opposed the bill.

“95-98% of stakeholders opposed this bill in the JPC meeting. There was no clause-by-clause discussion,” he said.

Samajwadi Party MP Mohibullah said, “This has been a joke with the country. The way the procedure was concluded in the meeting, seems like a mockery. This will not be beneficial for Waqf.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant also mentioned that clause-by-clause discussion was not even brought up in today’s meeting.

“The amendments we proposed were put to a vote directly. You should have explained why we proposed the amendments. There was no discussion. On the 29th, the draft report will come and then we will also submit a dissent note,” Sawant said.

Congress MP Imran Masood said that the new law would ruin the Waqf completely.

“The Chairman bulldozed everything and ended the meeting in 1.5 hours. History will not forgive those who supported this with the ruling party. This new law will completely ruin Waqf. It is an attempt to seize Waqf’s properties,” he said.

The major changes in the Waqf (Amendment) Bill approved by the JPC are that the bill originally gave the authority to the District Collector to determine whether a property is a Waqf property. However, the committee recommended a change, stating that instead of the Collector, a designated officer from the state government will make this decision.

The bill had a provision requiring at least two non-Muslim members in the State Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council. This provision has now been modified, meaning that two of the nominated members must be non-Muslim. (ANI)

Director James Gunn has dropped a new teaser of the highly anticipated film ‘Superman’. It features additional footage including the supes fight and new looks of the character Lex Luthor played by Nicholas Hoult.

The latest teaser was built on the trailer of the film which was released by James Gunn a month ago. Superman, which is considered to be a reboot of DCU films, stars David Corenswet in the lead role. It is set to release in theatres worldwide on July 11.

In this brief glimpse of the film, Superman, the last son of Krypton is seen rescuing the residents of the metropolitan city while fighting the giant lizard who has the ability to spit fire.

It also had a shot of the Supe shielding a young girl from a nearby explosion. The teaser starts with Superman calling his friend and dog Krypto for help while being severely injured. Glimpses of likely to be the Fortress of Solitude, Superman’s home, were also seen.

New looks of Nicholas Hoult were also seen as he exited from his luxurious vehicle. The teaser also includes footage of Superman in flight, bobbing, weaving, and executing a corkscrew motion as he flies through gaps in jagged ice.

While sharing the teaser from his Instagram handle, James Gunn wrote, “It begins July 11th”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFTSmmgvemC

Earlier, during a trailer launch event, Gunn was asked how he incorporated the decency Superman can represent for America and the rest of the world into the movie.

“I think that’s what ‘Take me home is all about,” Gunn said, adding, “We do have sort of a battered vision of Superman at the beginning, and I think that is our country. I believe in the goodness of human beings, and I believe that most people in this country, despite their ideological beliefs or their politics, are doing their best to get by and trying to be good people, despite what it may seem like for the other side, no matter what that other side might be.”

“It’s like when you get a nice haircut, and you forget about it, but then you walk around and everybody’s like, ‘Whoa, you look great, for once!. I got to see other people see Superman.” said James Gunn as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

The trailer which was released in December 2024, also gave glimpses of the other superheroes, including Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl and Edi Gathegi’s Mr Terrific. (ANI)

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) announced 25 per cent retaliatory “emergency tariffs” on Colombia, hours after President Gustavo Petro blocked US military deportation flights.

Following Petro’s announcement, Trump criticized him in a post on Truth Social and announced a slew of sanctions and policies targeting Colombia. The actions by the US President included a 25 per cent tariff on all imports from the country, a “travel ban” for Colombian citizens, and a revocation of visas for Colombian officials in the US along with “all allies and supporters.”

Trump further attacked Colombian President Gustavo Petro, calling him “unpopular”. He claimed that his denial of these flights has “jeopardized” the national security and public safety of the United States.

“I was just informed that two repatriation flights from the United States, with a large number of Illegal Criminals, were not allowed to land in Colombia. This order was given by Colombia’s Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular amongst his people. Petro’s denial of these flights has jeopardized the National Security and Public Safety of the United States, so I have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures,” Trump stated in a post on Truth Social.

Earlier on Sunday, Petro announced blocking two US military flights carrying migrants heading toward the country and called on the United States to establish better protocols in its treatment of migrants.

He also asserted that the US could not treat Columbian migrants as criminals and denied acceptance of the US planes carrying migrants.

“The US cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals. I deny the entry of American planes carrying Colombian migrants into our territory. The United States must establish a protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants before we receive them.”

Trump has also stated that after a week, the tariffs on goods would rise to 50 per cent.

“Emergency 25% tariffs on all goods coming into the United States. In one week, the 25% tariffs will be raised to 50%,” the post read.

Trump has also ordered immediate visa revocations on the Colombian Government Official and imposed visa sanctions on all supporters of the Columbian President’s party.

“A Travel Ban and immediate Visa Revocations on the Colombian Government Officials, and all Allies and Supporters,” it added.

“Visa Sanctions on all Party Members, Family Members, and Supporters of the Colombian Government,” he said.

Trump further said that more such measures may follow, and that the Columbian government must follow their ‘legal obligations’ of taking back their migrants.

“These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!” he said. (ANI)

Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant said that the upcoming period drama ‘Chhaava’ should be shown to “historians and scholars” and if they raise objections then “we will not let it be released.”

Produced under the banner of Maddock Films, ‘Chhaava’ is a period drama that portrays the legendary story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, played by Vicky Kaushal. The film is set to depict the courageous Maratha ruler’s legendary reign, beginning with his coronation in 1681.

The movie is directed by Laxman Utekar.

While talking to the media, he said, “The movie shows Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj dancing. The director should cut this part. This movie should be shown to historians and scholars. If they raise objections, we will not let it be released.”

Earlier taking to his X, Samant praised the effort to bring Sambhaji Maharaj’s story to the big screen but insisted that utmost care should be taken to ensure historical accuracy and respect for the Maratha king. Samant also asked the producers and directors of ‘Chhaava’ to act responsibly, warning that the film’s release could be “blocked” if any offensive content remains.

“It is a matter of joy that a Hindi film based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the protector of religion and protector of freedom, is being made. Such efforts are necessary to make the world understand the history of Chhatrapati. However, many have expressed their opinions that there are some objectionable scenes in this film. Our position is that this film should not be released without first showing it to experts and knowledgeable people. Anything that will harm the honor of the Maharaj will not be tolerated,” Samant said on X.

“Our position is that the producers and directors of the film should take immediate action in this regard and remove anything objectionable. A further decision will be taken after watching the film; otherwise, this film will not be allowed to be released!” he added.

The film also stars Rashmika Mandanna and Akshaye Khanna.

‘Chhaava’ is touted to be a “stirring tale of the courageous warrior whose coronation on this day in 1681 marked the beginning of a legendary reign.” (ANI)

Uttarakhand is set to become the first state to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) today (January 27).

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the implementation of UCC will bring uniformity in all laws relating to personal civil matters that discriminate on the basis of caste, religion, gender, etc, adding that all the necessary preparations have been completed to implement UCC, including approval of the rules of the Act and training of the concerned officials.

Taking to X, CM Dhami wrote, “Dear residents of the state, The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be implemented in the state from January 27, 2025, making Uttarakhand the first state in independent India where this law will come into effect. All the necessary preparations have been completed to implement UCC, which includes approval of the rules of the Act and training of the concerned officials. UCC will bring uniformity in the society and ensure equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens. Uniform Civil Code is just an offering made by our state in the great yagya being done by the Prime Minister to make the country a developed, organized, harmonious and self-reliant nation. Under the Uniform Civil Code, an attempt has been made to bring uniformity in all laws relating to personal civil matters that discriminate on the basis of caste, religion, sex etc.”

Speaking to ANI on Saturday, CM Dhami stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party has fulfilled the promise they made in 2022.

He referred to Article 44 of the Constitution, which mentions that the country “shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.”

Article 44 of the Constitution is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy. Part IV of the Constitution of India (Article 36-51) contains the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).

The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are guidelines for the Indian government aimed at ensuring socioeconomic justice for the people and establishing India as a Welfare State.

“During the 2022 assembly election which we contested under the leadership of PM Modi – we promised the people of the state that we will work to implement the UCC after forming the govt. We have fulfilled all the formalities and the Act (UCC) is now ready to be implemented… Uttarakhand has become the first state to bring the UCC – where there will be no discrimination based on gender, caste, or religion – and we are bringing the UCC – mentioned under Article 44 of the constitution on January 27…” CM Dhami told ANI.

The Uttarakhand government will implement the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code Act, 2024, today establishing a streamlined framework for the creation and cancellation of wills and supplementary documents, known as codicils, under testamentary succession.

According to the state government, this act applies to the entire area of the state of Uttarakhand and is also effective on the residents of the state living outside Uttarakhand.

The UCC applies to all residents of Uttarakhand, except Scheduled Tribes and protected authority-empowered persons and communities.

Uttarakhand has become the first state in India to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), aiming to simplify and standardize personal laws related to marriage, divorce, succession, and inheritance.

Under this, marriage can be solemnised only between those parties, none of whom has a living spouse, both are mentally capable of giving legal permission, the man should have completed at least 21 years of age and the woman 18 years of age and they should not be in the ambit of prohibited relationships.

Marriage rituals can be performed in any form under religious customs or legal provisions, but it is mandatory to register marriages taking place after the implementation of the Act within 60 days.

Marriages solemnised before March 26, 2010, or outside the state of Uttarakhand, where both the parties have been living together since then and fulfil all the legal eligibility criteria, can (although it is not mandatory) get registered within six months of the coming into force of the Act, said an official statement by the government.

Similarly, the work of acceptance and acknowledgement of marriage registration is also required to be completed promptly. After receiving the application, the sub-registrar has to make an appropriate decision within 15 days. (ANI)

In a special moment during the Coldplay concert in Ahmedabad, singer Chris Martin dedicated a beuatiful song to India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who also attended the concert, calling him the “best bowler” in the world.

In a cheeky dig, Martin admitted that he didn’t like him “destroy” the English batting lineup with his fiery bowling.

“O Jasprit Bumrah, my beautiful brother. The best bowler in the whole of cricket. We did not enjoy watching you destroy England, wicket after wicket,” Coldplay’s frontman Chris said, while he could be seen singing the song in a video shared on Disney+ Hotstar Instagram handle.

Chris also played a clip of Bumrah, where the Indian fast bowler was demolishing the batters with his sheer class and pace.

Coldplay also displayed Bumrah’s signed Test jersey on the stage.

Sunday’s show was live-streamed on Hotstar.

This was not the first time Chris showed his love and respect for Bumrah. The Indian bowler also recieved a special shout-out from singer Chris Martin during Coldplay’s concerts in Mumbai on January 18 and January 19.

During his Day-1 act, Chris Martin surprised everyone when he suddenly mentioned the name of India’s star bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

“Hold on, we have to finish the show because Jasprit Bumrah wants to come and play backstage,” he said.

After thanking the fans, Martin added, “He (Bumrah) says he needs to bowl at me now.”

Cricket fans definitely got excited when they heard Martin taking Bumrah’s. Many even assumed that Bumrah would actually come on stage. He did not show up but Martin’s shout-out to Bumrah definitely evoked a loud cheer from the audience at the concert, organised by BookMyShow Live.

On the second day, Martin once again gave a shout-out to Bumrah. He paid tribute to the bowler as he played a clip of the star cricketer’s iconic dismissal of England batter Ollie Pope during the 2024 home series.

Jasprit Bumrah, the top-ranked bowler in ICC Men’s Test Rankings, will be seen in action during the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, which will start from February 19 onwards. Bumrah, currently nursing a back issue, could miss out on the matches during the home ODI series against England, starting from February 6 onwards.

In a challenging tour for the Indian team in Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Bumrah emerged as the lone warrior for India consistently delivering match-defining performances and being the leading wicket-taker in the series with 31 scalps to his name. His exceptional contributions not only earned him the Player of the Series award but also cemented his reputation as one of the finest bowlers in world cricket. (ANI)

With Delhi’s assembly elections approaching, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is focussing on attracting voters, urging them to vote for his party if they want zero electricity bills and choose BJP if they wanted hefty power bills.

Addressing a public rally in Jangpura on Sunday, Kejriwal said, “All those who want zero electricity bill, vote for AAP, and all those who want hefty sums as electricity bills can vote for BJP. BJP has announced that they will end subsidies on electricity once they form government… They are against free electricity.”

“… We have got amazing love and support from Jangpura in the last 10 years. This is why I have handed over my dearest Manish Sisodia to all of you… He is my dearest. He is my younger brother, my ‘senapati’. We will multiply the development in Jangpura. We will complete all the works that have been paused…” Kejriwal said as he sought support for AAP candidate from Jangpura Manish Sisodia.

Meanwhile, BJP candidate Parvesh Verma alleged that AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal is distributing money to thousands of paid workers in exchange for votes.

Verma, who will be contesting against Kejriwal from the New Delhi assembly constituency, accused AAP of distributing money to slum dwellers, claiming that party workers are giving Rs 500 notes wrapped in calendars to people in the slum areas.

“People of AAP are distributing notes of Rs 500 wrapped in calenders in the slum areas. Such videos came up from the Gandhi camp a day earlier. Police caught and arrested them there. An NCR (Non-Cognizable Report) has been prepared by the police. Cases have been registered against them. Thousands of people have been called and they are getting Rs 800 on a daily wage basis to work (for the AAP). They have not brought the money from their houses. Arvind Kejriwal is giving them money to distribute it in exchange for votes to Kejriwal,” the BJP leader alleged.

AAP is seeking a third consecutive term, while the BJP is determined to regain control from the ruling party.

The Delhi Assembly elections will take place in a single phase on February 5, with the counting of votes set for February 8. A total of 699 candidates are competing for the 70 assembly seats in Delhi.

The Congress, which governed Delhi for 15 consecutive years, has faced setbacks in the last two assembly elections, failing to win any seats. In contrast, AAP dominated the 2015 and 2020 elections, securing 67 and 62 seats, respectively, while the BJP managed only three and eight seats in those elections. (ANI)

The announcement of Padma Awards on the eve of Republic Day turned out to be a “bitter-sweet” moment for the family of late veteran ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas, who has been posthumously honoured with the Padma Bhushan.

Speaking with ANI, Pankaj Udhas’ wife Farida Udhas, and daughters Nayaab Udhas and Reva Udhas reacted to honour with mixed emotions. They couldn’t hold back their tears as they remembered the music maestro on such important occasion.

“It’s a matter of pride for us but we are also extremely sad as he (Pankaj Udhas) is not here with us,” Pankaj Udhas’ wife said.

His daughter Reva added, “We wish he was here to receive this award. He would have been immensely happy if he were around. I thank the government for honouring my father with this award. He always gave his best to make India proud. He was always passionate about his country. And through his music, he connected borders and put India on the global map.”

Pankaj Udhas’ elder daughter Nayaab Udhas also got emotional, recalling how January 26 marks 11 months since the death of her father.

“It’s a bitter-sweet moment for us as today marks 11 months since our father left for his heavenly abode. We are really proud of him. He is not here with us today to see this win but I am grateful to the government and all those people who have acknowledged his work.”

Pankaj Udhas breathed his last on February 26, 2024. He was 72.

In 1980, Pankaj Udhas gained widespread popularity for his solo ghazal album ‘Aahat’. Later, he recorded other successes, including Mukarar (1981), Tarrannum (1982), Mehfil (1983), and many more.

Some of his popular renditions are ‘Chitthi Aayi Hai’, ‘Chandani Raat Mein’, ‘Na Kajre Ki Dhaar’, ‘Aur Ahista Kijiye Baatein’, ‘Ek Taraf Uska Ghar’ and ‘Thodi Thodi Piya Karo’. (ANI)

Actor Aamir Khan joined the Republic Day celebrations at Gujarat’s Statue of Unity in Kevadia on Sunday, offering heartfelt praise for the monumental structure.

The Statue of Unity, standing tall at 182 meters (597 feet), is the world’s tallest statue and honours the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of India’s most influential leaders.

Describing his experience at the iconic site, Aamir Khan said, “The first image of the Statue of Unity itself was breathtaking. It is such a beautiful place. I want to thank Modi ji for thinking of celebrating the contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ji in such a grand way.”

The actor, reflecting on his personal connection to the day, recalled his great grand uncle Maulana Azad’s role in the struggle for India’s independence alongside Sardar Patel and Mahatma Gandhi.

Khan further said, “My great grand uncle, Maulana Azad, who was a comrade of Sardar Patel, stood by him in the struggle and worked alongside him and Gandhi ji. For me, this is a very special day.”

He added, “I was thinking about how many discussions they must have had while sitting together, and how many joys and struggles they must have faced in this journey. So, it was a very special day for me, and I really enjoyed it tremendously.”

The actor emphasized the importance of the Statue of Unity, calling it a significant cultural and modern symbol.

“This is such a special place… It is our modern site. India has many historic sites, each more incredible than the other. But this is an incredible modern structure created for us. Modi ji laid its foundation, and it has turned into such a marvellous and memorable creation for all the citizens of the country.”

Aamir Khan also expressed his desire to visit this monumental place with his family, saying, “Next time, I would love to bring my children, Ira, Junaid, and Azad, with me when I visit Gujarat so that they can also witness the beauty of this place.”

The Statue of Unity, inaugurated in 2018, stands as a tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who served as the first deputy prime minister and home minister of independent India.

Known for his vital role in the political integration of the country, his legacy is immortalized in the statue, which faces the Sardar Sarovar Dam in the Kevadia colony, located in Gujarat.

India is celebrating its 76th Republic Day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took to his X and reflected on the country’s democratic journey.

“Happy Republic Day. Today, we celebrate 75 glorious years of being a republic. We bow to all the great women and men who made our Constitution and ensured that our journey is rooted in democracy, dignity, and unity. May this occasion strengthen our efforts towards preserving the ideals of our Constitution and working towards a stronger and prosperous India,” he said in a post on X.

President Droupadi Murmu unfurled the national flag at Kartavya Path, followed by the national anthem with a thunderous 21-gun salute using 105-mm Light Field Guns, an indigenous weapon system.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto joined the celebration as the chief guest of this year.

This year, Republic Day highlights the 75 years since the enactment of the Constitution and emphasizes “Jan Bhagidari” (people’s participation). (ANI)