Ruckus inside J&K Assembly continues for second day over Waqf Act
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed a rowdy scene for the second consecutive day as opposition parties continued to demand a discussion on the Waqf Act. The Assembly was adjourned for 30 minutes after the Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather, denied a motion moved by National Conference MLAs to adjourn the Question Hour to discuss the contentious issue.
The drama unfolded when National Conference MLA, Ali Mohammad Sagar, moved a motion to suspend the Question Hour and take up a discussion on the Waqf Act, which has been a point of contention among politicians and civil society members in the region. However, the Speaker rejected the motion, leading to loud protests from the opposition benches.
The ruckus continued for over an hour, with opposition MLAs raising slogans and demanding a discussion on the Waqf Act. The ruling BJP-PDP coalition members, on the other hand, remained adamant, claiming that the matter was already being discussed in a parliamentary committee and there was no need for a debate in the Assembly.
The Waqf Act, which was passed in 2013, is a law that deals with the management and administration of Waqf properties in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the opposition parties have been criticizing the government for allegedly misusing the law to favour certain communities and individuals.
The National Conference, which has been vocal about its opposition to the Waqf Act, has been demanding a review of the law and its implementation. The party has claimed that the law has been used to grab Waqf properties and has led to the marginalization of certain communities.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is an alliance partner of the BJP, has also been critical of the Waqf Act. PDP MLA, Abdul Haq Khan, said that the law had been used to benefit a select few and had led to the exploitation of Waqf properties.
The government, on the other hand, has been defending the law, claiming that it has been implemented in a fair and transparent manner. The Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, has said that the law has been enacted to protect Waqf properties and ensure their proper management.
The debate over the Waqf Act has been going on for some time now, with opposition parties demanding a review of the law. However, the government has been resisting these demands, claiming that the law is already being implemented and there is no need for a change.
The ruckus in the Assembly on Monday was not the first time that the Waqf Act has been a point of contention. In the past, there have been several instances where the opposition parties have raised the issue, demanding a review of the law and its implementation.
Despite the opposition’s demands, the government has remained adamant, claiming that the law is already being implemented and there is no need for a change. However, the opposition parties continue to press for a discussion on the issue, claiming that the law has been misused and has led to the marginalization of certain communities.
The drama in the Assembly on Monday was a clear indication of the growing tensions between the opposition parties and the government over the Waqf Act. The opposition parties are determined to push for a discussion on the issue, while the government is equally determined to resist these demands.
As the controversy over the Waqf Act continues to simmer, it remains to be seen how the government and the opposition parties will resolve their differences. One thing is certain, however – the debate over the Waqf Act will continue to be a major issue in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, with far-reaching implications for the state and its people.
