Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV vijayawada l thursday l april 03, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION KSDL goES global, to launch ultra-luxury soap for `3,000 The soap, to be sold for `3,000, is crafted from premium natural sandalwood oil and will be sold exclusively at airports and for export on demand 288 232 24th Maharaja of Mysore who commissioned KSDL Sustainable Packaging with Butter Paper More Products to Lure Global Buyers Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), which manufactures the iconic Mysore Sandal Soap, is going to brand the soap under its exquisite collection, ‘Kala Loka - Treasure of Karnataka’ and has designed an exclusive package. KSDL will replace its plastic packaging material with ‘butter paper’and use only electric vehicles on its premises ■ ■ Dr Prashanth PKM, KSDL’s managing director, said the luxury soap is part of the company’s international expansion strategy. A new manufacturing plant will be set up in Vijayapura KSDL revamps Mysore Sandal Soap packaging, signs Tamannaah Bhatia as ambassador, and plans to produce perfumes and cosmetics 331 dealers have been onboarded to establish outlets nationwide 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 AyES Noes n  on-Muslims in Waqf council and boards only for administration work, won’t run religious affairs 2  013 amendment during UPA rule to give 123 properties in Delhi to Waqf in 25 days necessitated change: Shah Waqf Bill sails in Lok Sabha Application of Limitation Act The bill seeks to repeal Section 107 of the 1995 Act, which had rendered the Limitation Act, 1963, inapplicable to waqf properties. The Limitation Act imposes a ban on legal proceedings after a prescribed period. Section 107 has exempted waqf boards from the 12-year limitation period for reclaiming encroached properties Appointment of non-Muslims Amendment to Waqf Act proposes the inclusion of non-Muslims to the Central Waqf Council, State Waqf Boards, and waqf tribunal. It allows the govt to nominate three MPs — two from LS and one from RS — to the Central Waqf Council without mandating that they be Muslims. It also allows the appointment of a nonMuslim CEO and mandates that state govts appoint at least two non-Muslim members to Waqf Boards P r e e th a N a i r @ New Delhi The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the contentious Waqf Bill (Amendment) 2024 with a slender majority of 288 against 232 votes. While the NDA led by BJP secured 288 votes, the Opposition got 232 while one member abstained from voting. The voting was necessitated after the Opposition members sought division of votes in the passage of the bill. In all, 520 members were present in the House during the voting. The debate that began at 12 noon on Wednesday concluded at 12.15 am. It was followed by voting. Though the NDA has 293 MPs in the Lok Sabha, it secured only 288 during voting. The BJP was bolstered by a show of support from its key allies like the TDP, JD(U), Shiv Sena and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), while the INDIA bloc put up a united show in opposing the bill. The debate on the bill reflected the sharp divide between the government and the Opposition. While the BJP has 240 MPs, JD(U) has 12 and TDP 16. Both NDA and Opposition parties had issued whips to their members to be present in Parliament for next three days. Concluding the debate, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed the Opposi- Minorities in India are safe because the majority in India is fully secular Consider providing flexibility to states to decide composition of Waqf boards - Kiren Rijiju, BJP - KP Tenneti, TDP tion’s allegations that the bill is unconstitutional and minorities are not safe in the country . While tabling the bill for passage, Rijiju said the government had no intention of interfering in the religious matters of Muslims and was solely driven by the aim of transparent administration of Waqf properties. The bill seeks to improve the administration of Waqf properties, introduce technology-driven management, address complexities and ensure transparency he said. , Earlier, Union home minister Amit Shah lashed out at the Op- position and asserted that vote bank is being created by intimidating minorities and confusion is being spread in the country in the name of the Waqf bill. The non-Muslims in Waqf Council and boards are meant purely for ensuring administration of properties in accordance with the stated aims, he said. “The government does not want to interfere in the religious activities of Muslim brothers and the trusts associated with their donations, i.e. Waqf. Mutawali, Waqif, Waqf will all be Muslims, but it will definitely have to be seen whether the property of Waqf is being maintained properly or not,” he said. Taking aim at the Congress, Shah said if there had not been an amendment in the Waqf Act in 2013, there would have been no need to bring this legislation. Earlier, initiating the debate, Congress Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi alleged that the bill was an attempt to attack the basic structure of the Constitution, defame minorities, disenfranchise them and divide the society He also raised concerns . over a controversial provision in the bill that states only a Muslim who has been practicing the faith for at least five years can make donations. The House also saw a major showdown between the Opposition and treasury benches after AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi tore a copy of the bill in protest. He accused the government of targeting the country’s largest minority, calling the proposed amendments an attack on their right. “This bill is an attack on Muslims. The Modi government has started a war on my freedom. My mosques, my dargahs, my madrasas are on target. This government is not revealing the truth. This bill violates Article 14 — equal protection. Limitations will be imposed. By doing so, the encroacher will become the owner,” he said. BJP wants the Muslims to feel that their rights are being attacked It is against minority rights, religious freedom and is unconstitutional BSN Malleswara Rao @ Vijayawada Women’s World Cup inaugural in Vizag The Andhra Cricket AssociaIndia is set to host the tion (ACA) has formally exWomen’s Cricket World Cup tended an invitation to Sunris2025, with Visakhapatnam ers Hyderabad (SRH) to potentially hosting the consider Visakhapatnam as inaugural match. The State their new home ground, should Government and ACA are in they relocate from talks with the BCCI and the Hyderabad. ICC to bring this event to AP According to sources, the ACA has offered to host the remainder of SRH’s matches in dy has ordered a vigilance Visakhapatnam. Additionally, probe into the matter. Against the ACA has proposed hosting this backdrop, the ACA swiftly the team mid-tournament, and reached out to the SRH manproviding tax incentives to the agement, led by Kavya Maran, IPL franchise. offering support if they decide The ACA’s offer comes amid to leave Hyderabad. The Rajiv an ongoing dispute between Gandhi International Cricket the Hyderabad Stadium in UpCricket Associapal has been press tion (HCA) and SRH’s home clusive ground. SRH regarding complimentary M e a n wh i l e, tickets. the ACA-VDCA SRH has alleged that the International Cricket Stadium HCA management has been in Visakhapatnam serves as harassing the team for free the secondary home ground tickets, prompting the team to for Delhi Capitals, owned by threaten relocation from their the GMR Group. cur rent home g round in This season, Visakhapatnam Hyderabad. hosted two IPL matches - DC vs In response, Telangana LSG and DC vs SRH - which P4 Chief Minister A Revanth Red- drew sizable crowds.  It’s an attempt to attack the basic structure of the Constitution - A Raja, DMK ACA bids to make Visakhapatnam new home of SRH - Gaurav Gogoi, Cong Union home minister Amit Shah makes an intervention in the debate on the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday | PTI - Akhilesh Yadav, SP FILE PHOTO In a first, govt to offer 47 medical tests at doorstep Mockery of 10th Schedule, says E x p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @ Vijayawada The State government is set to launch a first-of-its-kind initiative to provide 47 confirmatory diagnostic tests at people’s doorstep through the revamped Mobile Medical Units (MMUs), popularly known as 104 services. The initiative aims to enhance healthcare accessibility across the State. The new service provider has agreed to conduct 20 common tests at `195, with other tests available at reasonable rates. Each MMU is expected to screen approximately 35 individuals per day . The introduction of these diagnostic tests will facilitate the creation of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), enabling a comprehensive health profile of the population. This will help the government assess the SCAM ED fileS petition before SPL Court Urges rejection of the Lokayukta police’s closure report on CM Siddaramaiah and family in MUDA scam, citing seven objections. ED’s PMLA probe found illegalities in site allotments and undue influence by CM’s associate health status of the population, and implement targeted health interventions. Currently, 104 ambulances conduct only two rapid-kit tests for diabetes and hypertension. Under the scheme, all beneficiaries will get 20 common tests, including Blood Glucose, Complete Blood Picture, Renal Function and Liver Function Tests, Lipid Profile, Urine Analysis, and Arterial Blood Gas tests. Additionally, 27 diseasespecific tests will be conducted based on medical requirement. Initially, the confirmatory diagnostic tests will be introduced on a pilot basis to assess data reliability before expanding them Statewide. As part of this initiative, the new service provider will equip all 904 MMUs with semi-automatic biochemistry analyzers, CBC machines, microscopes, and incubators. Each vehicle will be staffed with a lab technician. The government has awarded the contract for 108 and 104 services to a consortium led by Bhavya Health Services Private Limited, in partnership with SRIT India Private Limited, following the withdrawal of the ex- Focus on emergency services To enhance emergency services, two new norms have been introduced. Ambulances should shift patients to hospital within the ‘Golden Hour’, and all emergency calls should be attended, addressing concern over unattended calls previously Mom dies & daughter hurt in attack, accused arrested E x p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @ Visakhapatnam A woman was killed, and her daughter sustained serious injuries when a man attacked them at their residence in Swayamkrushi Nagar of Kommadi under PM Palem police station limits in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday . The accused is identified as Naveen (26), a native of Veerag h at t a m v i l l a g e i n Pa r- isting service provider. The monthly cost of operating the 108 and 104 services, along with the Emergency Response Centre, has increased from `28 crore to `31 crore, a marginal rise of less than 11%. The increase accounts for the procurement of 190 new 108 ambulances to replace outdated vehicles, rising fuel costs, and higher staff wages. The government noted that when the previous tender was finalised in 2020, diesel was priced at `70 per litre, compared to the current rate of `97.47. Additionally drivers of , 108 ambulances will receive a `2,000 salary hike per month. vathipuram Manyam district. According to the police, the accused assaulted Nakka Deepika (20), and her mother Lakshmi (46) with a knife when Deepika refused to marry him. Lakshmi died on the spot in the attack, while Deepika, despite being severely injured, managed to come out of the house, and collapsed on the road. She was rushed to a private hospital, where she is receiving P4 treatment.  SC on CM’s defection remark S u c h i t r a K a lya n M o h a nt y @ New Delhi T h e S u p re m e C o u r t o n Wednesday slammed Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for stating that no byelections would be held if BRS MLAs switch to the Congress. A two-judge bench led by justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih criticised Reddy for “making mockery of the 10th Schedule” — which deals with provisions on disqualification due to defection — with his statement on the floor of the state assembly . The court’s reaction came during a hearing on a plea filed by BRS leaders K T Rama Rao and Padi Kaushik Reddy seek, ing timely action by the Speak- A Revanth Reddy er on disqualification proceedings against 10 MLAs who defected to the Congress. Reddy had made the statement on March 27, sparking controversy. The court observed that statements made by politicians in the Assembly have sanctity and can be used to interpret laws. It noted that something said in a public gathering, like the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, would be different from statements made on the floor of the legislative assembly which car, ry more weight. The court reminded Reddy of his previous statement on granting bail to BRS leader K Kavitha and Manish Sisodia was out of line. Appearing for the Speaker, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi said the assembly proceedings were not in question in the matter pending before the SC. The bench told Rohatgi to convey to the CM that there should be no “repeat action” and that the court is “not powerless” in issuing contempt notices. When Rohatgi said he was not appearing for the CM, the bench said he had appeared for him once in that case. Rare honour Israel screens The Diplomat to welcome Indian envoy J AYA N T H J ACO B @ New Delhi In probably the rarest of rare ushering in of an ambassador by a host country, Israel’s foreign ministry hosted the world premiere of the movie The Diplomat on Tuesday to welcome India’s new envoy J P Singh. , The movie, starring John Abraham, is based on a real-life crisis involving Singh. Before the screening, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met Singh and wished him success in his new stint. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in his message, highlighted how the film serves as a reminder that diplomacy requires thinking beyond standard procedures, with each day presenting new challenges. Singh, a 2002 batch IFS officer, was posted in Pakistan when an Indian woman named Uzma Ahmad sought refuge at the Indian High Commission, saying she was abducted and forced to marry a Pakistani man. The film portrays how Singh faces a complex web of diplomacy, Pa k i s t a n i law, and pressures to secure Uzma’s return to India. Speaking at the film’s gala reception, Singh shared two key lessons from his experience: the importance of teamwork and the support of political leadership. Sushma Swaraj was the foreign minister then. Singh also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clear directions during crisis meetings to ensure the safety of every Indian citizen.