SAMBALPUR  TUESDAY  JANUARY 28, 2025  `9.00  PAGES 16  CITY EDITION INDIA AND CHINA AGREE TO RESUME KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA DIRECT FLIGHT SERVICES TO BE RESTARTED During their talks, the two sides decided to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of this year. “The relevant mechanism will discuss the modalities for doing so as per existing agreements,” a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said. They also agreed in principle to resume direct air services between the two countries Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who is in Beijing on a two-day visit, held wide-ranging talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday ■ 2025 BOTH SIDES SHOULD SEIZE OPPORTUNITY: WANG ■ “The two sides should seize the opportunity... commit to mutual understanding, mutual support, and mutual achievement,” Wang said On resuming the provision of hydrological data and boosting other cooperation related to trans-border rivers, it was agreed to hold an early meeting of the India-China Expert Level Mechanism MARKS 75 YEARS SINCE INDIA AND CHINA ESTABLISHED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Waqf Bill gets JPC nod FETING NEW IDEAS, OLD WISDOM with 14 amendments EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Chennai Report expected to be tabled in Parl ahead of Feb 5 Delhi elections P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) scrutinising the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, approved it on Monday, setting the tone for its tabling for discussion and passage during the forthcoming Budget session of Parliament. While the panel led by BJP MP Jagadambika Pal adopted 14 amendments suggested by the ruling NDA members, all those proposed by the Opposition were rejected 10:16 by voice vote. The bill, introduced during the Monsoon session, had proposed 44 amendments to the Waqf Act, 1995. While the Opposition was up in arms against the panel chairman for allegedly breaking rules and bulldozing the proceedings, Pal said that the amendments were put to vote in a democratic manner. However, DMK MP A Raja said, “The chairman himself called the names of the mover of the amendments (given by us) and he himself moved the amendments on our behalf and conducted the head count. And he WHAT IS NEW Right to appoint officer to determine whether a property is Waqf or not given to the state govt instead of the District Collector in proposed bill Mandatory clause to include 2 non-Muslims in Central Waqf Council and state Waqf Boards dropped. Proposes change in the composition of the Waqf Board by increasing it to three members, including a scholar WHAT NEXT JPC will circulate final draft among the members on Tuesday It will meet on January 29 to adopt the report Report to be submitted to LS Speaker on January 31 and tabled in Parliament before Feb 5 Delhi polls announced the rejection of our amendments. We will move the Supreme Court if it becomes a bill.” Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Pal said one of the alterations aims to empower the state government to appoint an officer to determine whether a property is Waqf or not — instead of the District Collector who was given absolute powers to do so in the proposed bill. In the Waqf Act 1995, that power is vested in survey commissioners and additional commissioners. The panel also approved changes to another contentious provision that mandated the inclusion of two non-Muslim members in the Central Waqf Council and state Waqf Boards. It dropped the term mandatory and proposed changes in the composition of the Waqf Board by increasing it to three members, including a scholar. Another change was on the ‘Waqf by user’ provision. While the bill knocked it off entirely, the panel approved amendments that said the the ‘Waqf by user’ law will not apply retrospectively so long as , the property is registered. However, Congress MP and JPC member Imran Masood contested the proposal saying 90% of Waqf properties are not registered. Speaking to this newspaper, Masood accused the government of trying to create unrest by bringing in the new bill. I MPACTFUL conversations and thought-provoking debates marked the 13th edition of the ThinkEdu Conclave, presented by SASTRA University, held at ITC Grand Chola in Chennai on Monday A stellar line. up of speakers, from policymakers to academicians, reflected on the contemporary challenges and opportunities in education and beyond. The day began with a Saraswati Vandana by the students of MOP Vaishnav College for Women, followed by ceremonial lighting of lamp. In his welcome address, Prabhu Chawla, editorial director of The New Indian Express, highlighted the legacy of ThinkEdu as India’s leading education conclave, underscoring its commitment to fostering dialogue between modernity and traditional knowledge. Prabhu Chawla also cautioned against the over-reliance on artificial intelligence (AI), emphasising the importance of balancing pro g ress with values. The inaugural session featured Justice V Ramasubramanian, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission NHRC Chairperson V Ramasubramanian inaugurates the 13th edition of ThinkEdu Conclave 2025 in Chennai by lighting the lamp on Monday; (from left) SASTRA University V-C S Vaidhyasubramaniam, Dinamani Editor K Vaidiyanathan, TNIE CEO Lakshmi Menon and Editorial Director Prabhu Chawla are seen | P RAVIKUMAR (NHRC), who tackled the complex relationship between rights, duties, and the Indian soul. Moderated by Dinamani editor K Vaidiyanathan, Justice Ramasubramanian highlighted India’s diversity as both a strength and challenge. He underscored the need to balance rights with duties to build a just society. He also raised concerns about the delay by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) in according accreditation to the NHRC. Following this, Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament, delved into India’s parliamentary proceedings. In a session moderated by senior journal- PM to inaugurate Utkarsh Odisha conclave today EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bhubaneswar THE stage is set for the BJP government’s first investor summit - Utkarsh Odisha: Make-in-Odisha Conclave 2025, which is scheduled to go underway in the state capital on Tuesday. The two-day summit will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the day . Accepting the invitation of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, delegations from 16 countries comprising diplomats and top business leaders will take part in the conclave. Singapore is the country partner and Malaysia and Australia the focus countries in the summit. Business tycoons like LN Mittal, Anil Agarwal, Kumar Man- Preparation underway at Janata Maidan on the eve of Utkarsh Odisha Conclave, in Bhubaneswar on Monday | DEBADATTA MALLICK galam Birla, Sajjan Jindal, Naveen Jindal, Karan Adani and TV Narendran are scheduled to attend the Utkarsh Odisha conclave. More than 7,500 delegates from business and industry have registered to participate in the Modi, Don discuss West Asia, Ukraine J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi INDIA and the US are committed to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X on Monday, after his first telephonic conversation with Donald Trump after the latter’s swearing-in as the 47th president of the United States. “Delighted to speak with my dear friend President @ realDonaldTrump @POTUS. Congratulated him on his historic second term,” Modi said. “We are committed to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership. We will work together for the welfare of our people and towards global peace, prosperity, and security,” Modi CHECKS AT US GURDWARAS wrote. FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS Modi cong ratulated Officials from the US Department of Homeland Trump on his “historic Security have started visiting gurdwaras in New second term”, the Prime York and New Jersey to search for Minister’s Office (PMO). undocumented immigrants after Trump The two leaders discussed administration removed protections shielding various aspects of the religious places from immigration and customs wide-ranging bilateral enforcement actions | P9 comprehensive global strategic partnership and measures to advance it, including in the areas of technology, trade, investment, energy, and defence, the PMO said in a statement. They exchanged views on global issues, including the situation in West Asia and Ukraine, and reiterated their commitment to work together to promote global peace, prosperity, and security, it said. They agreed to remain in touch and meet soon at a mutually convenient date. event, officials said. A key highlight of the conclave is the Make-in-Odisha exhibition which will feature thematic pavilions showcasing the state’s industrial strengths across key sectors including minerals, manufacturing, renewable energy textiles, IT , and ITES, skill development, food processing and more. “It will also highlight the state’s progressive policies, infrastructure capabilities, business-friendly ecosystem, skilled workforce and strategic market access to domestic and international markets. Serving as a premier platform for both domestic and international businesses, the conclave will provide an exceptional opportunity for networking, collaboration and exploring new investment opportunities in Odisha,” said addition- al chief secretary Industries, He, mant Sharma. As per the tour programme, the prime minister is scheduled to arrive at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here at 10.35 am and directly proceed to Janata Maidan, the venue of the conclave. The PM will inaugurate the programme at 11 am and after his inaugural address, will leave the venue for the airport at 12.35 pm. After inauguration of the conclave, there will be a plenary session with top honchos of industrial houses followed by sectoral sessions on mining, metallurgy, chemical, petrochemicals, plastics and renewable energy There . will be a special session with countries of focus and a roundtable of chief executive officers (CEOs) with the chief minister. ist Kaveree Bamzai, Tharoor decried the rising animosity between the government and opposition, emphasising the need to restore trust and communication in Parliament. Dr Ujwala Chakradeo, ViceChancellor of SNDT Women’s University, and Prof Basuthkar J Rao, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad, shared insights into making campuses more inclusive in the session titled, “A Campus for Everyone: Making Higher Education Inclusive.” Prof Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, UGC Chairman, spoke on the need to rebuild India’s examination system in his session on “Testing Times.” Moderated by Prof S Vaidhyasub- ramaniam, Kumar proposed adaptive testing models and emphasised aligning entrance exams with school curricula to reduce the reliance on coaching centers. In a forward-looking session on AI, Shekar Nair, Co-founder of Upekkha, tackled the hype and reality of AI. Nair emphasised the need to adapt to AIdriven changes in the workplace. Those who fail to embrace AI risk being replaced by it, he said. Politics, culture, aspiration The afternoon sessions shifted focus to political and cultural narratives. In “The Culture Project: Values for the Viksit Bharatiya,” Mukunda CR, joint general secretary of the RSS, advocated for a three-language policy encompassing one’s mother tongue, a regional language, and a career language. Praveen Chakravarty chair, man of the Professionals’ Wing and Data Analytics for the Congress party shared his vi, sion for “The Future of the Congress.” In the session moderated by TNIE Editor Santwana Bhattacharya, Chakravarty highlighted the need for the Congress to focus on aspirational politics that appeals to the youth and middle class. He praised Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra as a symbol P7 of love and justice. EXPRESS READ Karnataka HC reserves order on plea for MUDA probe by CBI Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Monday reserved its judgment on a petition seeking transfer of the MUDA case, currently being probed by the Lokayukta police, to the CBI. The high court also took on record the sealed-cover report submitted by the Lokayukta police on its investigation into the alleged illegal allotment of 14 sites to Karnakata Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife B M Parvathy by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). A single bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna directed the Lokayukta police not to file the final report of the probe before the trial court till the high court pronounces its judgment in the matter.