Ruckus inside J&K Assembly continues for second day over Waqf Act
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed another day of ruckus on Tuesday, as opposition parties continued to demand a discussion on the Waqf Act, which has been a contentious issue in the state. The Assembly was adjourned for 30 minutes after the Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather, refused to allow a discussion on the Act, leading to protests and shouting matches between the opposition and ruling parties.
The ruckus began soon after the proceedings of the day started, with National Conference (NC) MLAs moving a motion to adjourn Question Hour to discuss the Waqf Act. However, the Speaker rejected the motion, leading to protests from the opposition benches. The NC MLAs, led by party leader Omar Abdullah, refused to sit down and continued to shout slogans, demanding that the Speaker allow a discussion on the Act.
The ruling BJP-PDP coalition, on the other hand, remained firm in its stance, refusing to budge on the issue. The BJP MLAs, led by Party President Ravinder Raina, argued that the opposition was trying to create a controversy out of nothing and that the Waqf Act was a necessary step to bring transparency and accountability to the Waqf Board.
The Waqf Act has been a contentious issue in the state, with the opposition parties accusing the government of trying to grab Waqf properties and amend the Act to suit its own interests. The opposition parties have been demanding a discussion on the Act, which they claim has been drafted without consulting the stakeholders and is anti-Muslim.
The ruckus in the Assembly was not limited to the Waqf Act alone. The opposition parties also raised several other issues, including the transfer of senior officials, the denial of jobs to youth, and the poor condition of roads and healthcare services in the state.
The Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather, tried to calm the situation by adjourning the Assembly for 30 minutes, but the opposition parties refused to back down. The NC MLAs, in particular, remained seated on the floor of the Assembly, refusing to leave until their demand for a discussion on the Waqf Act was met.
The ruckus in the Assembly comes at a time when the state is already witnessing a surge in political tensions. The opposition parties have been accusing the government of trying to suppress their voices and stifle their democratic rights, while the ruling coalition has been accusing the opposition of trying to create chaos and destabilize the state.
In recent weeks, the state has witnessed several incidents of violence and clashes between the security forces and protesters, leading to several injuries and arrests. The situation has been particularly tense in the Kashmir Valley, where the protests against the Waqf Act have been some of the most intense.
In the midst of all this, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s adjournment of the Waqf Act has only added to the tensions. The opposition parties have accused the government of trying to push through the Act without a proper debate, while the ruling coalition has accused the opposition of trying to obstruct the legislative process.
As the ruckus in the Assembly continues, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. Will the opposition parties be able to press their demands for a discussion on the Waqf Act, or will the government manage to push through the Act without a proper debate? Only time will tell.
