THURSDAY 03 APRIL 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR FAIR DELIMITATION: STALIN TO LEAD DELEGATION OF MPS CORY BOOKER SETS A RECORD WITH MARATHON SENATE SPEECH P9 SENSEX 76,617.44p592.93 WEATHER Partly cloudy. Nearby storms may bring lightning, gusty winds. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 36°C and 27°C respectively. NIFTY P4 23,332.35p166.65 ` vs $ 85.73 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 2 APRIL TEMPERATURE Max: 36.5˚C SUN RISES 05:27 hrs MOON RISES 09:08 hrs Min: 27.8˚C SUN SETS 17:52 hrs MOON SETS 23:26 hrs Full Moon on 13 April THUMBNAILS Women offer prayers while performing Chaiti Chhath rituals, in Patna, on Wednesday. n ANI Pakistan Army violated ceasefire in Poonch sector, says Indian Army: The Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire agreement by opening unprovoked firing in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, a statement by the Indian Army said. It is learnt that the Pakistan Army and other agencies were trying to push heavily armed terrorists into the Indian territory by giving them cover with gunfire. (Page 7) S trongly defending the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Union Home Minister Amit Shah rejected the Opposition's charge that the government wants to interfere in the religious affairs of Muslims through the legislation and said its provisions are aimed at better management of the Waqf properties. Intervening in the debate on the Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, the home minister said the legislation would not be implemented with retrospective effect. He accused the Opposition of trying to mislead the people and create fear among members of the Muslim community. Extending his support to the Bill, Mr Shah said there are misconceptions among several members, either genuinely or politically over the Bill. Mr Shah categorically said there is no provision for the appointment of non-Muslims in the processes related to reli- gion in the Bill. Stating that no nonMuslim would come into the Waqf, Mr Shah said there is no such provision to include any non-Muslim among those who manage the religious institutions. The minister further said that they would only look after the administration of property donated by someone under the Waqf Law. He also said that a person can donate only the property that belongs to him, not the property that belongs to the government or any other individual. His comments came as MPs of a united Opposition assailed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill as an attempt to interfere in the affairs of a religion and violative of the Constitution of India in an hours-long debate in the Lok Sabha. Initiating the debate on the Bill in the Lok Sabha, Deputy Leader of the Congress Gaurav Gogoi expressed concern over the intentions of the government for bringing the Bill. “Today, they have their eyes on the land of a particular community; tomorrow, they will target the land of other minorities in society,” he said. While acknowledging the need for amendments in the law, he emphasised that such changes should strengthen the Act rather than exacerbate problems and disputes, which, he argued, would result from the proposed amendments. Mr Gogoi accused the government of attempting to create chaos by enabling cases to be filed across the country, thereby disrupting the “atmosphere of brotherhood”. “Our Constitution says every citizen must receive political, social, and economic justice... freedom of expression and religion... This Bill is an attack on the fundamental structure of the Constitution. This government aims to dilute the constitution through this Bill. Second, they want to defame the minority community. Third, they want to divide Indian society," he alleged. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said whenever the BJP brings up a new Bill, it hides its failure. P12 SILVER 1,14,000 GOLD 93,750.00 Fierce debate on in Lok Sabha over controversial legislation Max. 72% Min. 55% P6 Oppn spreading false info on Waqf Bill: Shah RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY IPL: KKR HOST SRH AMID EDEN PITCH ROW POWERFUL SIGNAL BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 74.18q0.31 Waqf Bill: BJP trying to divide country, says Mamata Banerjee STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 2 APRIL Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday attacked the Central government over the Waqf Amendment Bill, accusing the BJP of perpetually trying to divide the country. Speaking to mediapersons at Nabanna today, Miss Banerjee said: “Our MPs are fighting for Waqf today. The Jumla Party (has) only (a) one-point programme: to divide the country. They believe in divide and rule policy - something that we don't. We follow our Constitution. We should all first respect the Constitution before doing anything else. Always remember: Dhormo jaar jaar, utsob sobaar. I listen to the sermons of Shri Krishna, and read Swami Vivekananda, Netaji, Gandhiji, Ambedkar, Abul Kalam Azad, and Ramakrishna. Kormo jaar, dhormo taar. Religion serves its purpose when karma is fulfilled with humanity. If one’s karma is inhumane, they cannot pay their respects to any religion. I respect all religions.” Miss Banerjee also asked the Centre to revoke its decision on the enhanced pricing of essential drugs or be prepared to face the conse- quences of this arbitrary decision on the streets. She announced that in protest, her party, the Trinamul Congress, would take to the streets on 4 and 5 April across all districts and block levels, where the party would organise processions to protest against the Centre’s recent move to hike prices. Miss Banerjee expressed her ire over the Centre’s decision to increase the prices of approximately 748 essential drugs used in the treatment of various diseases, especially heart ailments, cancer, and other critical conditions. She questioned the Centre’s move, asserting that making life-saving drugs significantly more expensive would, in reality, drive com- mon people, particularly the poor, into penury due to the revised prices. Miss Banerjee said: “The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, which is a central agency controlling the prices of essential drugs, has increased the prices of about 748 drugs from 1 April. This will virtually push common people into penury as the exorbitant prices of essential drugs for heart ailments and even cancer have shot up, leaving the common people, especially the poor, to bear the brunt. Where will they go? For the rich and affluent, these recent moves may not be a cause for concern, but the poor will be the main sufferers.”