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 adjournment motion was moved by National Conference (NC) MLAs to discuss the Waqf Act, which has been a contentious issue in the region for some time now.
The Waqf Act is a law that governs the administration of Wakf properties, which are charitable endowments dedicated to the service of the community. However, the Act has been criticized by many for its alleged anti-Muslim bias and for giving too much power to the government to manage these properties.
The NC MLAs, led by the party’s president Farooq Abdullah, moved the adjournment motion to discuss the Waqf Act, citing concerns over the way the government was implementing it. They alleged that the government was trying to take control of the Wakf properties and that the Act was being used to suppress the Muslim community.
However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs also protested and demanded that the Question Hour be held as scheduled. The BJP MLAs claimed that the NC MLAs were trying to disrupt the House and that they were not willing to discuss the Waqf Act.
The Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather, denied the adjournment motion, saying that the House was not in a position to discuss the issue as it was not on the agenda. He also rejected the BJP’s demand to hold the Question Hour, saying that it was not possible to hold the Question Hour without the permission of the House.
The NC MLAs were not happy with the Speaker’s decision and protested loudly, demanding that the Waqf Act be discussed in the House. The BJP MLAs also joined in, and soon the House was in complete chaos. The Speaker was forced to adjourn the House for the day, as the situation was getting out of control.
The adjournment of the House was a major embarrassment for the government, as it was unable to control the situation and had to adjourn the House without discussing the Waqf Act. The NC MLAs were also upset, as they were not able to discuss the issue that they felt was important.
The Waqf Act has been a contentious issue in the region for some time now, and it is not clear what the government plans to do with it. The Act was passed in 2013, and it has been criticized by many for its alleged anti-Muslim bias and for giving too much power to the government to manage these properties.
In recent years, there have been several cases of government officials taking control of Wakf properties, which has led to protests and demonstrations by the Muslim community. The Waqf Act has also been criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability, as it does not provide for independent oversight of the Wakf properties.
The NC MLAs have demanded that the government repeal the Waqf Act and replace it with a new law that is more transparent and accountable. They have also demanded that the government take steps to restore the autonomy of the Wakf boards and to ensure that the Muslim community has a greater say in the management of these properties.
The BJP MLAs, on the other hand, have defended the Waqf Act, saying that it is necessary to ensure the smooth functioning of the Wakf properties. They have also claimed that the Act is not biased against any particular community and that it is intended to benefit all sections of society.
The adjournment of the House over the Waqf Act is a major blow to the government, as it has failed to address the concerns of the Muslim community. The government will now have to take steps to address the issues raised by the NC MLAs and to ensure that the Waqf Act is implemented in a way that is fair and transparent.
