Today in Politics: SC to hear pleas challenging Waqf Act; Cong to launch ‘Jai Hind Sabhas' on national security

Indian Express

20-05-2025

The Supreme Court on Tuesday is set to hear petitions challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act to consider an interim stay on its provisions.
The pleas will be heard by a bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih. The bench said it would hear arguments for passing interim directions on three issues including the power to denotify properties declared as waqf by courts, waqf-by-user or waqf by deed.
The second issue raised by the petitioners relates to the composition of state waqf boards and the Central Waqf Council, where they contend only Muslims should operate except ex-officio members.
The third issue relates to a provision that says a waqf property will not be treated as a waqf when the collector conducts an inquiry to ascertain if the property is government land.
The Centre had opposed the apex court's proposal to pass an interim order against the denotification of waqf properties, including 'waqf by user', aside from staying a provision allowing the inclusion of non-Muslims in the central waqf councils and boards.
Congress's 'Jai Hind Sabhas'
Beginning on Tuesday, and running until May 30, the Congress is set to hold 'Jai Hind Sabhas' in 15 states to raise questions on the government's handling of national security and its 'silence' on the 'concerning involvement' of the US in halting hostilities between India and Pakistan.
These meetings will see the involvement of army veterans, party leaders and the general public, Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal said in a post on X.
'Congress will hold 'Jai Hind Sabhas' across India to salute the supreme valour and success of our Armed Forces. We also must raise serious questions on security lapses, the Government's handling of national security, and its silence on the concerning involvement of the US in our national security matters,' Venugopal said.
Jai Hind Sabhas will be held in Delhi, Barmer, Shimla, Haldwani, Patna, Jabalpur, Pune, Goa, Bengaluru, Kochi, Guwahati, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar and Pathankot.
The Congress has accused the BJP of 'politicising' Operation Sindoor trying to make the military action a 'brand' for itself.
Meanwhile, in Karnataka, the Congress government is set to mark two years in power with an event at Hosapete in Vijayanagara district. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said three lakh people are expected to attend the event, which will also see Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi present besides Karnataka leaders like Deputy CM D K Shivakumar.
MP Cabinet meet at Rajwada Palace
On Tuesday, the Madhya Pradesh cabinet will meet at the historic Rajwada Palace in Indore to mark the conclusion of the 300th birth anniversary celebrations of famed 18th-century queen Devi Ahilyabai Holkar. The Cabinet is expected to make several decisions concerning public welfare, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said.
Ahilyabai Holkar, wife of Holkar dynasty ruler Malhar Rao Holkar, governed the Malwa region from 1767 to 1795. She is revered for her administrative skills, philanthropy, and religious devotion.
Recently, the Maharashtra Cabinet also held a meeting at Ahilyabai's birthplace in the Ahilyanagar district to commemorate her 300th birth anniversary. Though Ahilyabai is highly revered among all castes and communities, present-day Holkars belong to the Dhangar community, which has a significant presence in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
– With PTI inputs