Jammu & Kashmir Assembly adjourned amid uproar over Waqf Act
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed a chaotic scene on Monday as the House was adjourned amid a heated debate over the Waqf Act. The controversy surrounding the Act has been ongoing for some time, with various political parties having different opinions on its implementation.
The commotion began when National Conference (NC) MLAs moved a motion to adjourn the Question Hour to discuss the Waqf Act. However, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather denied the motion, citing that the discussion on the Act was not on the agenda for the day. This led to a strong protest from the NC MLAs, who were joined by other opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The NC MLAs argued that the Waqf Act was a sensitive issue and needed to be discussed in the House immediately. They claimed that the Act was being implemented without the consent of the people and would lead to the misuse of Waqf properties. The NC also accused the government of trying to suppress their voices by denying the adjournment motion.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is a part of the ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir, also joined in the protest. The BJP demanded that the Question Hour should be held as scheduled and that the discussion on the Waqf Act should be left for another day. The party claimed that the Act was necessary to protect the Waqf properties and that the opposition was trying to politicize the issue.
The Speaker, however, remained firm on his decision and denied the adjournment motion. He claimed that the House was not a platform for making personal attacks or raising irrelevant issues and that the discussion on the Waqf Act would be taken up at an appropriate time.
As the debate continued to escalate, the opposition parties decided to boycott the Question Hour and walked out of the House. The BJP MLAs also left the House, leaving the Speaker to conduct the proceedings alone.
The Waqf Act has been a contentious issue in Jammu and Kashmir for some time. The Act aims to protect and manage the Waqf properties, which are considered sacred in Islam. However, the opposition parties have raised concerns that the Act could lead to the misuse of these properties and that the government was trying to impose its own agenda on the people.
The National Conference has been leading the opposition against the Waqf Act, claiming that it was not in the best interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The party has also accused the government of not consulting the people or the religious leaders before implementing the Act.
The Peoples Democratic Party has also opposed the Waqf Act, claiming that it was a violation of the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The party has demanded that the Act be repealed and that a new law be framed that takes into account the concerns of all stakeholders.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, on the other hand, has supported the Waqf Act, claiming that it is necessary to protect the Waqf properties and to ensure that they are not misused. The party has also accused the opposition of trying to politicize the issue and of being opposed to the development of the State.
The debate over the Waqf Act is likely to continue in the future, with both sides refusing to back down. The controversy surrounding the Act has highlighted the deep divisions between the different political parties in Jammu and Kashmir and has raised concerns about the future of the State.
In conclusion, the adjournment of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly amid uproar over the Waqf Act is a clear indication of the deep divisions between the different political parties in the State. The controversy surrounding the Act has raised concerns about the future of Jammu and Kashmir and has highlighted the need for greater dialogue and understanding between the different parties.
