On Wednesday, members of the All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) presented 13 concerns to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) regarding the Waqf Amendment Bill that the government plans to pass. However, insiders said that the AISPLB officials had trouble explaining their points clearly.
Members of the ruling party questioned the objections from the AISPLB, but the officials struggled to respond effectively. The AISPLB representatives explained that they were given very short notice for the meeting and weren’t fully prepared. The JPC chairperson said they could return or submit written answers to the questions later.
During the meeting, the AISPLB officials argued that the bill was against the interests of the Muslim community. However, a ruling party MP argued back, saying past governments had only appeased the Muslim community and that this new government was truly trying to help the poor and women within the community.
Some opposition MPs disagreed with the ruling party MP, stating that he was turning the discussion into a political fight. The meeting’s chairman stepped in to end the argument.
After the meeting, JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal told the media that the AISPLB had presented their 13 concerns. The committee would review these points and may ask the AISPLB officials to come back for more discussions.
This JPC, which started reviewing the bill in August, was expected to report back to Parliament during the current winter session. However, the Lok Sabha speaker has allowed more time to discuss it until the end of the next budget session.
Category: India
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AISPLB Objects to Waqf Amendment Bill: Key Concerns Explained
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Mumbai Ferry Disaster: 13 Dead, 80 Rescued in Shocking Accident
A shocking ferry accident occurred in Mumbai when a speedboat crashed into a passenger ferry. Sadly, 13 people lost their lives, and more than 80 people were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported that the Neelkamal ferry was carrying 85 passengers, including the crew, to the famous Elephanta Caves. The ferry started its trip at around 3:15 PM.
The accident happened when an Indian Navy boat lost control during engine tests in Mumbai Harbour. This caused it to hit the passenger ferry, which then capsized.
The Elephanta Island is located about 11 km east of the Gateway of India in Mumbai.
The Indian Navy and Coast Guard are actively searching for missing persons and have deployed many boats and helicopters for the rescue operations. Local police, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, and fishermen from the area are also helping.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis promised to share more information about the accident in the state legislature soon.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his sorrow over the loss of lives in the accident and said that injured people from both boats are getting urgent medical care. “My heartfelt condolences to the families affected. The search and rescue operation is ongoing,” he stated.
The Elephanta Caves are an important UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for their ancient rock-cut sculptures dating back to between the 5th and 7th centuries CE. They are a significant part of Indian heritage for both Hindus and Buddhists.
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Indian-Americans Make History in 2024 U.S. Elections
In 2024, America held an important election, and former President Donald Trump won, making him the 47th President. The election had a lot of excitement, with Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris as the main candidates. Throughout the year, people talked a lot about India and its influence on the election. There are around 2.6 million Indian-Americans eligible to vote, and many of them live in key states that Trump won, showing how much the Indian community matters in U.S. politics.
This year, many Indian-Americans changed their voting habits, moving from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. They made headlines and were highlighted in both political parties. Here’s a look at some key Indian-American figures who made a splash in the election:
Kamala Harris: Known worldwide, Harris made history as the first woman Vice President and the first person of Indian descent in such a high role. Her mother was an Indian-American scientist, and she often talked about her during her campaign. Harris lost her presidential bid on November 4, 2024, but increased India’s presence in U.S. politics.
Tulsi Gabbard: Although not of Indian descent, Gabbard identifies as a Hindu. She is a long-time Congresswoman who made headlines when she left the Democratic Party to support Trump. Recently, Trump selected her as the Director of National Intelligence.
Vivek Ramaswamy: A biotech entrepreneur with roots in Kerala, Ramaswamy ran against Trump in the Republican primaries. He’s known for challenging government rules and is now co-leading a new project aimed at reducing government bureaucracy.
Usha Vance: Usha is set to become the first Indian-origin Second Lady of the United States. She introduced her husband, JD Vance, at the Republican National Convention. Usha has a background as a lawyer and has supported her husband’s political journey.
Kash Patel: Born in New York to Indian immigrants, Patel has been named the Director of the FBI. He is known for wanting to reform the FBI and make it more effective, which has made him both popular and controversial.
Jay Bhattacharya: A health expert from Kolkata, Bhattacharya has been appointed as the Director of the National Institutes of Health. He is known for his views on COVID-19 restrictions and will manage a large budget for medical research.
Harmeet Kaur Dhillon: A lawyer, Dhillon has been nominated as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. She is known for her work on election integrity and supporting Trump’s legal efforts in the past.
As we wrap up the year, it’s clear that Indian-Americans have played significant roles in shaping U.S. politics, and their influence continues to grow.
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Government Takes Action Against Misleading Coaching Centers for Students
New Delhi: The Indian government has taken action against coaching centers that trick people with false ads. They issued 45 notices and fined 19 coaching centers a total of ₹61.6 lakhs. This was shared by B.L. Verma, the Minister of State for consumer affairs, during a discussion in the Lok Sabha.
On November 13, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) announced new rules called “Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements in the Coaching Sector, 2024.” These rules aim to stop coaching centers from making false promises about their success rates, rankings, and admissions. For example, they cannot claim that every student will get into their desired college.
The guidelines also say that coaching centers need to get written permission before they use a student’s name, picture, or testimonials in their ads. Furthermore, they must tell students whether they paid for the courses themselves or if someone else sponsored their education.
Coaching centers now need to link up with the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) to help students complain about misleading ads and unfair practices. Verma noted that the NCH has helped resolve issues for students preparing for competitive exams like UPSC Civil Services, JEE, and NEET, resulting in refunds totaling ₹1.15 crore.
The government is acting quickly because of fierce competition for engineering and medical school spots and the exaggerated claims made in ads, which sometimes lead to serious stress and even tragic outcomes for students. Recently, a coaching center, Sriram’s IAS, was fined ₹3 lakhs for making false claims in their advertisements.
The rise of coaching centers has caused many concerns. This is especially true in Kota, Rajasthan, where many students come to study. Many feel overwhelmed as they prepare for their exams, often living far away from their families.
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PM Modi Set for Historic Visit to Kuwait in December 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to visit Kuwait on December 21 and 22, 2024. This is a big deal because it’s the first time in 43 years that an Indian Prime Minister will visit Kuwait, as mentioned by the Ministry of External Affairs.
During his visit, PM Modi will talk with Kuwait’s leaders and connect with the Indian community living there. India and Kuwait have a strong friendship that goes way back, based on history, trade, and the many people-to-people connections. India is one of Kuwait’s top trading partners, and the Indian community is the largest group of foreigners in Kuwait.
This visit is a great chance to make the bond between India and Kuwait even stronger. Recently, Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya visited India and met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The Ministry of External Affairs welcomed him warmly, saying this visit would boost the relationship between the two countries.
India and Kuwait also signed an agreement to create a Joint Commission for Cooperation, which will help both countries work together more effectively.
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Feel free to make any adjustments as needed
Umar Khalid, a former student leader from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), has been given a temporary release from jail. A court in Karkardooma allowed him to attend his cousin’s wedding. Khalid can spend seven days outside of prison for this special family occasion. More updates will follow soon!
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Supreme Court Urges Punjab to Safeguard Hunger-Striking Farmer Leader
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court warned the Punjab government that if anything happens to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the entire state would be held responsible. Dallewal has been on a hunger strike for 23 days, and the court called for special measures to ensure his health and safety, including hospital care.
A panel of justices, Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, emphasized that the court’s job is to make sure the farmers’ concerns are heard loud and clear by everyone involved. Justice Kant reminded the Punjab government’s attorney, Gurminder Singh, that they need to take extra steps to protect Dallewal’s health, and that serious situations need serious actions.
The court plans to review the situation again on Thursday at 2 PM. Earlier, the court had ordered the Punjab government to engage with farmers and ensure Dallewal’s well-being, promoting peaceful protests grounded in “Gandhian principles.” They also set up a high-level panel to help address farmers’ issues, including demands for legal guarantees for minimum support price (MSP).
Justice Kant stressed that Dallewal, a prominent figure, needs to stay healthy to represent the farmers’ cause effectively. Although his vital signs are stable, Dallewal refuses medical checks and hospital admission, preferring to continue his protest.
Justice Kant stated the government must protect Dallewal since it is their duty. He urged the Punjab AG to act quickly for Dallewal’s safety. The bench highlighted the importance of saving Dallewal’s life and reminded that the Supreme Court is open for farmers to voice their demands.
Dallewal started his hunger strike on November 26 as part of a larger movement seeking to legalize MSP and push for broader agricultural reforms. Farmers, organized under different groups, have been protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border since February, blocking major roads and causing disruptions.
Dallewal argues that MSP is critical for farmers’ survival and even wrote to Prime Minister Modi to stress its importance for rural livelihoods. A Supreme Court-appointed committee is mediating between farmers and the government, working to address key issues affecting agriculture, such as rising debt and climate challenges.
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Delhi LG Criticizes CM for Missing CAG Reports, Urges Assembly Session
In New Delhi, the Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena wrote a letter to the Chief Minister Atishi, criticizing her government for not sharing important reports. These reports are done by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and should have been presented in the assembly.
Saxena claims the government has ignored its duty to show 14 such reports over the last two years. He noted that normally, assemblies meet at least three times a year, but the Delhi government has only met five times in the last five years, which he called “very unusual.”
The LG mentioned that the assembly’s last meeting was cut short on December 4 but hasn’t been formally ended yet. He urged Atishi, as the leader, to hold a special assembly session on December 19 or 20 to discuss these reports, especially since elections for a new assembly are coming up.
Currently, there’s a lawsuit because the opposition BJP wants the government to present these reports and has warned they will go back to court if not done within 48 hours. Saxena also shared that he has repeatedly reminded Atishi and her predecessor, Arvind Kejriwal, about the importance of these reports. He expressed disappointment that a government that promised transparency is not following through on sharing its findings, which is crucial for the people.
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Top 200 Entrepreneurs of 2024: Radhakishan Damani Leads the List!
IDFC FIRST Private Banking and Hurun India have shared the second edition of the “IDFC FIRST Private & Hurun India’s Top 200 Self-Made Entrepreneurs of the Millennium 2024” list. Leading the list this year is Radhakishan Damani, who founded Avenue Supermarts (DMart). His company is now valued at over Rs 3.4 lakh crore, which is an impressive 44% increase! This list highlights entrepreneurs who started their businesses after the year 2000 and have made a big impact on India’s business world.
Here are the Top 10 entrepreneurs:
1. Radhakishan Damani (Avenue Supermarts)
2. Deepinder Goyal (Zomato)
3. Sriharsha Majety & Nandan Reddy (Swiggy)
4. Deep Kalra & Rajesh Magow (Makemytrip)
5. Abhay Soi (Max Healthcare Institute)
6. Yashish Dahiya & Alok Bansal (Policy Bazaar)
7. Bhavit Sheth & Harsh Jain (Dream11)
8. Nithin Kamath & Nikhil Kamath (Zerodha)
9. Harshil Mathur & Shashank Kumar (Razorpay)
10. Falguni Nayar (Nykaa)Vikas Sharma, who leads Wealth Management & Private Banking at IDFC FIRST Bank, talked about how important this report is. He said it shines a light on the amazing work of India’s entrepreneurs. These leaders show hard work, creativity, and a constant drive for success. By releasing this report, we celebrate their achievements and show our support for the entrepreneurial spirit that helps India grow, he mentioned. This year’s list celebrates the power of Indian entrepreneurs, highlighting those who have changed industries, introduced new ideas, and helped the country’s economy grow.
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Delhi Court Seeks Online Presence of Accused in Naresh Balyan’s Case
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court asked for two men in jail to join a hearing online on December 19. This is part of a serious case involving AAP MLA Naresh Balyan, which falls under strict laws against organized crime. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri told the jail chief to make sure Rohit and Sachin Chikara appear in a video call for the hearing. The court was looking at a request from police to move the case from a local court in Dwarka to a special court that deals with cases involving politicians. The police explained that while they are handling other related cases in a special court, the remaining accused are appearing in different courts, which makes things complicated. Justice Ohri noted that even though the two accused were informed about the transfer request, they didn’t have anyone to represent them. The lawyer for another accused, Ritik, said he had no issues if the case was moved to the special court. The police arrested Balyan on December 4 for alleged organized crime, just after he had been granted bail for a separate extortion case. The special court had refused the police request to keep Balyan in custody longer and sent him to jail until January 9, 2025.