Jammu & Kashmir Assembly adjourned amid uproar over Waqf Act
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday witnessed a massive uproar after Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather denied an adjournment motion on the Waqf Act, following which the House was adjourned. The incident marks the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the Waqf Act, a legislation that has been at the center of a heated debate in the state.
The drama began when National Conference MLAs moved a motion to adjourn the Question Hour to discuss the Waqf Act. The move was seen as an attempt to bring the contentious issue to the forefront of the Assembly’s agenda. However, the BJP, which has been vocal in its opposition to the Waqf Act, also protested and demanded that the Question Hour be held as scheduled.
As the debate escalated, Speaker Rather denied the adjournment motion, leading to further uproar in the House. The National Conference MLAs were visibly agitated, with some of them shouting slogans and waving placards. The BJP members, on the other hand, remained steadfast in their opposition to the Waqf Act, claiming that it was an attempt to undermine the rights of non-Muslim communities in the state.
The Waqf Act, which was passed by the previous government in 2019, aims to regulate and manage the Waqf properties across Jammu and Kashmir. However, the legislation has been criticized by several groups, including the BJP, which claims that it is discriminatory and violates the rights of non-Muslim communities.
The controversy surrounding the Waqf Act has been ongoing for several months, with both the National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) supporting the legislation. However, the BJP, which is the largest opposition party in the state, has been fierce in its opposition, claiming that the Act is an attempt to promote communalism and undermine the rights of non-Muslim communities.
The latest developments in the Assembly are likely to further exacerbate tensions in the state. The National Conference has accused the BJP of trying to stall the House and prevent a discussion on the Waqf Act, while the BJP has accused the National Conference of trying to impose its will on the state.
The controversy surrounding the Waqf Act is not new. In fact, the issue has been simmering for several years, with both the National Conference and the PDP supporting the legislation. However, the BJP’s opposition to the Act has added a new layer of complexity to the issue.
The BJP’s opposition to the Waqf Act is rooted in its claim that the legislation is discriminatory and violates the rights of non-Muslim communities. The party has argued that the Act is an attempt to promote communalism and undermine the rights of non-Muslim communities, and that it is an example of the previous government’s bias towards a particular community.
The National Conference, on the other hand, has defended the Waqf Act, claiming that it is an attempt to regulate and manage the Waqf properties across the state. The party has argued that the Act is necessary to ensure the proper management of Waqf properties, and that it is not discriminatory or biased.
The controversy surrounding the Waqf Act is not limited to the political sphere. In fact, the issue has also been taken up by several civil society groups and religious organizations, which have expressed concerns over the implications of the legislation.
One of the main concerns is that the Waqf Act could lead to the erosion of the rights of non-Muslim communities in the state. The Act defines a Waqf property as one that is owned by a Muslim, and provides for the appointment of a Waqf board to manage these properties. However, critics of the Act claim that this definition is too narrow, and that it could lead to the exclusion of non-Muslim communities from the management of Waqf properties.
Another concern is that the Waqf Act could lead to the misuse of Waqf properties. The Act provides for the appointment of a Waqf board to manage Waqf properties, but critics of the Act claim that this could lead to the misuse of these properties for political or personal gain.
The controversy surrounding the Waqf Act is likely to continue in the coming weeks and months. The National Conference and the PDP are likely to continue to support the legislation, while the BJP is likely to continue to oppose it. The issue is likely to be a major point of contention in the state’s politics, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold.
