Ruckus inside J&K Assembly continues for second day over Waqf Act
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed another day of ruckus and chaos on Tuesday, as opposition parties continued to demand a discussion on the Waqf Act. The Assembly was adjourned for 30 minutes after Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather refused to allow a debate on the issue, citing lack of business on the agenda.
The ruckus started soon after the House assembled for the day’s proceedings. National Conference (NC) MLAs led by their leader, Omar Abdullah, moved a motion to adjourn the Question Hour to discuss the Waqf Act. However, Speaker Rather refused to accept the motion, citing that it was not listed in the day’s agenda.
The opposition parties, including the NC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Congress, protested the Speaker’s decision and demanded that the House be allowed to discuss the issue. The NC MLAs, in particular, were vocal in their demands, shouting slogans and waving placards.
The Speaker’s decision to deny the motion was seen as a setback for the opposition parties, which have been demanding a discussion on the Waqf Act since Monday. On Monday, the Assembly was also adjourned after the Speaker refused to accept a similar motion moved by the NC MLAs.
The Waqf Act, which was passed by the previous government in 2019, has been a bone of contention between the opposition parties and the government. The opposition parties have been accusing the government of trying to undermine the rights of the Waqf board and its employees, while the government has been defending the Act, saying it is necessary to bring transparency and efficiency to the Waqf board’s functioning.
The opposition parties have been demanding that the Act be repealed and a new law be enacted to replace it. They have also been demanding that the government provide a detailed report on the implementation of the Act and the steps taken to ensure the rights of the Waqf board and its employees.
The government, on the other hand, has been refusing to repeal the Act, saying it is a well-intentioned legislation that aims to improve the functioning of the Waqf board. The government has also been accusing the opposition parties of trying to politicize the issue and create unrest in the state.
The standoff between the opposition parties and the government has led to a tense atmosphere in the Assembly, with both sides refusing to back down. The Speaker’s refusal to allow a debate on the Waqf Act has only added to the tension, with the opposition parties accusing him of being biased and partisan.
The situation is likely to remain tense in the coming days, with the opposition parties vowing to continue their protest and demand a discussion on the Waqf Act. The government, on the other hand, is likely to continue to defend its position and refuse to repeal the Act.
In the meantime, the people of Jammu and Kashmir are watching the developments in the Assembly with great interest. The Waqf Act has been a contentious issue in the state for some time now, and the opposition parties’ demand for a discussion on the issue has been widely supported by the people.
As the standoff between the opposition parties and the government continues, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days. One thing is certain, however, and that is that the Waqf Act will continue to be a major issue in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly until a solution is found.
