Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Adjourned Amid Uproar Over Waqf Act
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed a chaotic scene on Monday as the Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather, denied an adjournment motion on the Waqf Act, leading to a massive uproar in the House. The National Conference MLAs had moved a motion to adjourn the Question Hour to discuss the Waqf Act, but the BJP also protested and demanded that the Question Hour be held as scheduled.
The development comes at a time when the Waqf Act, which regulates the management of Muslim religious properties, is under scrutiny in the state. The Act has been a contentious issue in Jammu and Kashmir, with various groups and parties having different opinions on its implementation.
The National Conference MLAs, led by party president Farooq Abdullah, moved the adjournment motion to discuss the Waqf Act, citing concerns over its alleged misuse by some individuals and groups. They argued that the Act needed to be reviewed and amended to ensure that it served the intended purpose of protecting Muslim religious properties.
However, the BJP MLAs, led by party president Ravinder Raina, opposed the adjournment motion and demanded that the Question Hour be held as scheduled. They argued that the Waqf Act was a state subject and that the Centre had no role in its implementation.
The debate in the Assembly was heated, with both sides accusing each other of trying to disrupt the proceedings. The Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather, tried to intervene several times, but the noise level in the House remained high.
As the debate continued, the National Conference MLAs started shouting slogans against the Waqf Act, while the BJP MLAs retaliated by shouting slogans in support of the Act. The situation became so volatile that the Speaker was forced to adjourn the House, citing disruptions.
The adjournment of the House was met with protests from both sides. The National Conference MLAs alleged that the Speaker had denied them an opportunity to discuss the Waqf Act, while the BJP MLAs claimed that the adjournment had been forced due to the “misbehavior” of the National Conference MLAs.
The development has raised concerns over the future of the Waqf Act in Jammu and Kashmir. The Act has been in place since 1994 and has been amended several times since then. However, its implementation has been criticized by various groups and parties, who have alleged that it has been misused by some individuals and groups to grab Muslim religious properties.
The controversy over the Waqf Act in Jammu and Kashmir is not new. In the past, there have been several instances of disputes over the management of Muslim religious properties under the Act. However, the current controversy is significant, as it has led to a sharp division between the National Conference and the BJP.
The National Conference has accused the BJP of trying to divide the state on religious lines and has demanded that the Centre take steps to ensure the protection of Muslim religious properties. The BJP, on the other hand, has accused the National Conference of trying to undermine the Waqf Act and has demanded that the state government take steps to ensure its effective implementation.
The controversy over the Waqf Act in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to continue, as it has the potential to polarize the state’s politics. The National Conference and the BJP are two major political parties in the state, and their disagreement over the Waqf Act could have significant implications for the state’s politics.
In conclusion, the adjournment of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly amid uproar over the Waqf Act is a significant development that has raised concerns over the future of the Act in the state. The controversy is likely to continue, as it has the potential to polarize the state’s politics and has significant implications for the state’s governance.
