Ruckus inside J&K Assembly continues for second day over Waqf Act
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed a ruckus for the second consecutive day on Tuesday as opposition parties demanded a discussion on the Waqf Act, leading to the adjournment of the House for 30 minutes. The Assembly was also adjourned on Monday after Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather denied a motion moved by National Conference (NC) MLAs to adjourn Question Hour to discuss the Waqf Act.
The opposition parties, including the NC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), are up in arms against the Waqf Act, which they claim is anti-constitutional and intended to further the interests of a particular community. The Act, which was passed by the previous government in 2019, aims to regulate and manage Waqf properties, which are considered sacred and owned by the Muslim community.
On Tuesday, the opposition parties raised slogans and protested inside the Assembly, demanding that the Waqf Act be repealed. The NC and PDP MLAs, led by their respective leaders, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, moved a resolution in the House, seeking a discussion on the Waqf Act. However, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather denied the motion, saying that it was not a substantive motion and could not be entertained during Question Hour.
The opposition parties were not pleased with the Speaker’s decision and protested loudly, demanding that the Waqf Act be discussed in the House. The BJP MLAs also joined the protest, saying that the Act was discriminatory and needed to be repealed. The ruckus continued for some time, after which the Speaker adjourned the House for 30 minutes.
The opposition parties claim that the Waqf Act is a threat to the secular fabric of the state and will lead to communal polarization. They also accuse the government of trying to divide the society by passing such laws. The NC and PDP have already announced that they will move a resolution in the House to repeal the Waqf Act, which is likely to create a stir in the Assembly.
The government, on the other hand, has defended the Waqf Act, saying that it is necessary to regulate and manage the Waqf properties, which are considered sacred and owned by the Muslim community. The government claims that the Act is aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the management of Waqf properties and will benefit the Muslim community.
The Waqf Act has been a contentious issue in the state for some time now. The opposition parties have been demanding its repeal, saying that it is anti-constitutional and will lead to communal polarization. The government, however, has refused to repeal the Act, saying that it is necessary to regulate and manage the Waqf properties.
The ruckus inside the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly over the Waqf Act is likely to continue in the coming days, with the opposition parties determined to repeal the Act and the government refusing to budge. The situation is likely to create a stir in the state, with the opposition parties accusing the government of trying to divide the society and the government accusing the opposition parties of trying to create communal tensions.
In conclusion, the ruckus inside the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly over the Waqf Act is a serious concern that needs to be addressed by the government and the opposition parties. The Act is a contentious issue that has the potential to create communal tensions in the state. The government and the opposition parties need to come together to find a solution to this issue, which is essential for the peace and stability of the state.
