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 commotion was sparked by a proposal moved by National Conference (NC) MLAs to adjourn the Question Hour to discuss the Waqf Act, which has been a contentious issue in the region for some time.
The NC MLAs, led by Party President Farooq Abdullah, had moved the adjournment motion, demanding a discussion on the Waqf Act, which they claimed was being misused by the government to benefit a particular community. However, their demand was met with fierce resistance from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs, who argued that the Question Hour should be held as scheduled.
The chaos in the House began when Speaker Rather rejected the adjournment motion, citing that it was not a matter of urgent public importance. This decision was met with loud protests from the NC MLAs, who shouted slogans and demanded that the Speaker reconsider his decision.
The BJP MLAs, on the other hand, were equally vociferous in their opposition to the adjournment motion. They argued that the Question Hour was an important part of the Assembly’s proceedings and that it should not be disrupted by a minor issue like the Waqf Act.
The situation in the House continued to deteriorate, with both sides refusing to back down. The Speaker’s decision to reject the adjournment motion was seen as a major setback for the NC MLAs, who had been demanding a discussion on the Waqf Act for some time.
The Waqf Act, which was passed by the previous government in 2019, has been a subject of controversy in the region. The Act aims to protect and preserve the Waqf properties, which are owned by the Muslim community. However, many have criticized the Act, saying that it is being misused by the government to benefit a particular community.
The NC MLAs have been vocal in their criticism of the Act, saying that it is against the spirit of secularism and is an attempt to divide the society on communal lines. They have also accused the government of using the Act to grab Waqf properties and give them to BJP supporters.
The BJP MLAs, on the other hand, have defended the Act, saying that it is necessary to protect the Waqf properties and ensure that they are used for the benefit of the Muslim community. They have also accused the NC MLAs of trying to create communal tensions and divide the society.
The adjournment of the Assembly has once again highlighted the deep divisions within the House. The BJP and the NC have been at loggerheads over several issues, including the Waqf Act, and it seems that the situation is unlikely to improve anytime soon.
In the midst of all the chaos, the Speaker’s decision to reject the adjournment motion has been widely criticized by opposition parties. The Congress, which has been vocal in its criticism of the Waqf Act, has accused the Speaker of being biased and of trying to protect the interests of the BJP.
The situation in the Assembly is likely to remain tense in the coming days, with both sides refusing to back down. The Waqf Act is a highly sensitive issue, and it is unlikely that the situation will improve until a resolution is found.
