THURSDAY 03 APRIL 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 Pages 16 |` 5.00 | LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR FAIR DELIMITATION: STALIN TO LEAD DELEGATION OF MPS CORY BOOKER SETS A RECORD WITH MARATHON SENATE SPEECH P10 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. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 72% Min. 55% NIFTY P7 23,332.35p166.65 ` vs $ 85.73 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) P8 Amit Shah alleges Opposition spreading misinformation about the Bill STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 2 APRIL T he Lok Sabha tonight passed the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill after a marathon debate that lasted for nearly 12 hours. The Bill which amends the Waqf Act of 1995, with the stated objective of improving the administration and management of Waqf properties, was passed over an hour after midnight after rejecting all amendments moved by the Opposition. The Bill now moves to the Rajya Sabha for debate and passage. Earlier, strongly 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. Mr Shah categorically declared that there is no provision in the Bill for the appointment of non-Muslims in the processes related to religion. There is no such provision to include any nonMuslim among those who manage the religious institutions, Mr Shah said, adding that they would only look after the administration of pr operty donated by someone under the Waqf law. He also said that a per- son can donate only the property that belongs to him, not the property that belongs to the government or any other individual. Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, who piloted the Bill, rejected Opposition claims that the Bill was unconstitutional and that minorities were unsafe in the country. During the debate, Opposition MPs 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. 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. “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. Trinamul Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee said the Waqf Amendment Bill “hits the basic structure” of the Constitution and encroaches upon the rights of the Muslim community to manage its religious affairs. AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, denouncing the Bill, cited the example of Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa and symbolically tore up a copy of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. P16 SILVER 1,14,000 GOLD 93,750.00 Waqf Amendment Bill passed in Lok Sabha TEMPERATURE Max: 36.5˚C SUN RISES 05:27 hrs MOON RISES 09:08 hrs 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, the state secretariat, 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 consequences of this arbitrary deci- sion on the streets. The chief minister 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 Central government’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 common 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.”