#hardeepsinghpuri

IntroductionMajor Updates in Parliament: Key Bills and ReactionsAmending the Oilfields Regulation ActProposed Changes to the Wakf ActControversy and OppositionReservation Bill for Scheduled Tribes in GoaResponses from Key StakeholdersConcerns from the Muslim CommunityConclusion

Introduction

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri is preparing to introduce a new Bill that seeks to modify the 1948 Oilfields (Regulation and move) Act, which is a noteworthy move. Given that it corresponds with proposed amendments to the Wakf Act, it is expected that this legislative action will provoke discussion and possibly even physical altercations between the opposition and ruling parties. Reactions to these proposed modifications have been mixed, especially with regard to the inclusion of women in these committees and the autonomy of Waqf boards.

Major Updates in Parliament: Key Bills and Reactions

Amending the Oilfields Regulation Act The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, which has regulated India's oilfields since 1948, is set to be updated by the government. It is anticipated that the changes will bring these essential resources' management and regulation up to date.

Proposed Changes to the Wakf Act Regarding the proposed Wakf Act modifications, another significant event is taking place concurrently. A major influence on the management of Waqf properties could result from these measures, which are intended to improve accountability and transparency within Waqf boards. It is noteworthy that the revisions also require Waqf properties to be registered with district collectors in order to accurately estimate their valuation, and they also seek to guarantee the representation of women on these boards. Controversy and Opposition The Wakf Act's planned amendments have generated debate, especially among a number of Muslim organizations and leaders. Former Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi emphasized that communal resistance to inclusive reforms is improper and that the Waqf system needs to move past a "touch-me-not" mentality. Some, like Asaduddin Owaisi, the head of AIMIM, contend that the federal government wants to erode the independence of Waqf boards. Reservation Bill for Scheduled Tribes in Goa In addition to the aforementioned, the administration plans to present a bill in the Goa Legislative Assembly that would allocate reservations for scheduled tribes (ST). By taking this action, the ST community's lack of reserved seats in the state assembly will be addressed, and its participation in the legislative process will be guaranteed.

Responses from Key Stakeholders

Concerns from the Muslim Community The revisions being suggested have been met with substantial resistance from the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB). SQR Ilyas, the spokeswoman, stressed that any meddling with the legal standing and authority of Waqf boards would not be accepted. The AIMPLB has called on all Muslims and Muslim-affiliated groups to unite in opposition to what it sees as a government initiative to appropriate Waqf properties.

Conclusion

In yet another surprise move, the BJP announced former Indian envoy to US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, joining the party and contesting from his hometown Amritsar. Immediately after the joining ceremony, Sandhu said that Prime Minister Modi is a development-focused leader and that this development should reach his native place, Amritsar. Sandhu joins the long list of foreign diplomats serving the party. To name a few, S.Jaishanker, currently the Foreign Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister, Satya Pal Singh, former IPS, LS MP from Baghpat in 2014 and 2019, Ashwini Vaishnaw Former IAS, and Raiway Minister, so on so forth..

Sandhu was relieved of his duties in February this year after he retired as the Indian envoy to the US. He assumed charge as the Indian Ambassador to the United States in February 2020, with an immediate task of then-President Donald Trump’s India visit, followed by keeping up the momentum in bilateral ties. He is one of the most experienced Indian diplomats in US affairs, having served in the Indian Mission in Washington, DC, twice earlier.

Soon after joining , Sandhu said, “In the last 10 years, I have worked closely with PM Modi’s leadership, especially in the relationship with the United States and Sri Lanka. PM Modi is development-focused. Development is very much needed today and this development should reach Amritsar too. So, I thank the party president, the Prime Minister, Home Minister who encouraged me for the new path of service to the nation that I am entering.”

He further added, “There has been a transformation in India-US relations in the past 4 years. It has transformed from a relationship to a partnership. India has received investments in many areas. Opportunities are created for the youth. I am concerned that Amritsar should not miss the opportunities the country is getting… The party will decide if I will contest the elections or not. My hometown, Amritsar, has a lot of potential and I am very affectionate towards it.”

Earlier, he was the First Secretary (Political) at the Embassy of India, Washington, DC, responsible for liaison with the United States Congress from 1997 to 2000. He has also been at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, New York, from July 2005 to February 2009. Sandhu came to Washington from Sri Lanka, where he had a remarkably successful tenure as the High Commissioner from January 2017 to January 2020. He was the Consul General of India in Frankfurt from September 2011 to July 2013.

Besides this, he has worked in the Ministry of External Affairs in various capacities – as Joint Secretary (United Nations) from March 2009 to August 2011; and later as Joint Secretary (Administration), heading the Human Resource Division.

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said India has a “constructive” stand on the Israel-Hamas conflict and stressed on the two-state solution.

The minister called Hamas a “terrorist group” and said Israel has a “right to defend” itself against its advances. Puri, however, stressed that he was speaking in his personal capacity and his remarks do not represent the views of the Indian government.

Asked by PTI,  if India should take a stern stand and whether its stance on the Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Hamas conflicts has been neutral, Puri asserted “India is not neutral on Hamas’ attack on Israel and has strongly condemned this act of terrorism.” “Hamas is a terrorist group and they have attacked democracy … We support Israel’s action against Hamas in this regard. But we don’t support its action against Palestine where 2 million people live. One has to distinguish between the two,” Puri said.