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 Spotlight
One side sees it as a necessary intervention, while another calls it an intrusion. On Wednesday, government and opposition members debated the proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the lower House of India’s Parliament.
The Opposition called it an “assault” on India’s Constitution, while the government painted it as a measure to bring in necessary transparency. What’s the controversy? The need to introduce amendments has been questioned. Then there's the concern about possible government interference.
The Bill gives the District Collector many powers that were so far within the domain of the Waqf architecture. The Centre also seeks to introduce non-Muslim members to the board. Opponents of this move argue that it will dilute the character of what they call a "religious body.” Power move: The government, on the other hand, points to alleged misuse of power and resources. Trying to make a point, Rijiju said there were 4.9 lakh Waqf properties in 2006, which yielded a total income of Rs 163 crore. “Even the Sachar Committee said that Rs 12,000 crore would have been generated as revenue if the Waqf properties were managed well, Rijiju said. “How much it would have benefited poor Muslims,” he asked. Show certificate to govt: Speaking after Rijiju, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said the changes sought by the government will lead to a situation where people will be asked to “show certificate” of being Muslim. “Their (government’s) eyes are on the properties and lands of a certain community. Tomorrow, they will eye the lands of other communities,” he remarked.
Countering the government’s assertion that the amendments allowed women members to join the Waqf Board, Gogoi said more than two members of the Waqf Board could be women even in the 1995 Act.
☕ Spill the Expresso Facing the music: Trying to remember an Indian court from memory can evoke many emotions, but the last thing one may imagine is a place for sher-o-shayari (couplets and poems). But, the usually dry language of the courts, burdened by legalese, sometimes breaks free as courts find refuge in literature and music. Poetry then finds a place in court judgements. Recently, the Gujarat High Court quoted Pink Floyd in a case where the Customs department was found to be late in issuing show-cause notices. But, the legal halls have long witnessed Ghalib, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Sahir Ludhianvi and even Bob Dylan make their presence felt in cases as varied as dowry harassment to Indian languishing in a Pakistani jail.
🚨 Must Read ‘Fat shamers’ and ‘fat rebels’: For many of us, there doesn’t seem to be an ideal weight. We may either want to lose those extra kilos, trying to conform to society’s “beauty standards”, or gain a few, egged on by family members who look confounded by how thin we look. There doesn’t seem to be a chance of winning. Or at least it didn’t till drugs like Mounjaro gained superstardom and achieved an aspirational status. But as my colleague Rinku Ghosh writes, “Let’s not flaunt the branding of the pillbox and turn our bodies into a pharma factory”. It may be time for us to not be too fixated on a “dream” weight and instead objectively listen to what our body is trying to tell us.
📰 In Other News Cute, not harmless: What's your take on the Ghibli-fication of AI? This can soon be a question people pose on dating apps to separate 'red flags' from 'green flags'. While the topic seems to have divided the internet right down the middle, those with the most skin in the game - artists - are weighing in. And they are disappointed. As one graphic novelist says, "Just because the AI-Ghibli looks cute, it does not mean it’s harmless”. It also leads to conversations about how not just the design style of Studio Ghibli but many others seem to have been stolen. That’s all for now. Until next time, Swapnil Joglekar
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