Jammu & Kashmir Assembly adjourned amid uproar over Waqf Act
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday witnessed a massive uproar after Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather denied an adjournment motion on the Waqf Act, following which the House was adjourned. The adjournment motion was moved by National Conference MLAs to discuss the Waqf Act, which has been a contentious issue in the state for some time now. However, the BJP also protested and demanded that the Question Hour be held, leading to a heated debate and eventual adjournment of the House.
The Waqf Act, which was passed in 2013, aims to regulate the management of Waqf properties in the state. However, the Act has been criticized by many, including the opposition parties, for allegedly giving too much power to the Waqf Board and undermining the rights of the waqf property holders. The National Conference MLAs had sought to discuss the Act and its implications on the waqf property holders, but their efforts were thwarted by the Speaker’s decision to deny the adjournment motion.
The BJP, which has been a strong supporter of the Waqf Act, protested the National Conference’s move and demanded that the Question Hour be held. The party’s MLAs argued that the adjournment motion was an attempt to stall the proceedings of the House and frustrate the government’s efforts to implement the Waqf Act. They also accused the National Conference of trying to divide the waqf property holders along communal lines.
The National Conference MLAs, on the other hand, claimed that the Waqf Act was a ‘black law’ that would lead to the erosion of the rights of the waqf property holders. They argued that the Act was passed without consulting the waqf property holders and that it would give the Waqf Board too much power to manage the properties.
The opposition parties, including the National Conference, the Congress, and the CPI(M), have been vocal in their criticism of the Waqf Act, alleging that it was passed to benefit a particular community at the expense of others. They have also accused the government of trying to divide the society on communal lines by implementing the Act.
The government, on the other hand, has defended the Waqf Act, saying that it was necessary to regulate the management of Waqf properties in the state. The government has also claimed that the Act was passed after consulting all the stakeholders, including the waqf property holders, and that it is in the interest of the state and its people.
The adjournment of the House has led to a tense situation in the state, with both sides accusing each other of trying to stall the proceedings. The opposition parties have demanded that the government take back the Waqf Act and consult all the stakeholders before implementing it. The government, on the other hand, has refused to back down and has instead accused the opposition parties of trying to create chaos and confusion in the state.
The controversy surrounding the Waqf Act has also led to a division in the state’s Muslim community, with some supporting the Act and others opposing it. The controversy has also raised questions about the government’s intentions and its commitment to protecting the rights of all citizens, including the waqf property holders.
In conclusion, the adjournment of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly amid uproar over the Waqf Act is a testament to the deep divisions in the state’s society. The controversy surrounding the Act has raised important questions about the government’s intentions and its commitment to protecting the rights of all citizens. The state government and the opposition parties need to work together to find a solution to this contentious issue and ensure that the rights of all citizens are protected.
