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, who sought to discuss the Waqf Act, a legislation that has been a subject of controversy in the state. However, the BJP also protested and demanded that the Question Hour be held, leading to a heated exchange between the two parties.
The Waqf Act, which was passed in 2013, aims to regulate and manage the Waqf properties in the state. However, the opposition parties, including the NC and the Congress, have been critical of the Act, accusing the government of trying to usurp the powers of the Waqf Board and manipulate the Act to favor a particular community.
The NC MLAs, led by party’s provincial president, Nasir Aslam Wani, moved the adjournment motion, seeking to discuss the Waqf Act and the alleged irregularities in its implementation. However, Speaker Rather denied the motion, citing the procedural norms of the House.
The BJP, which is a coalition partner of the government, also protested the denial of the adjournment motion. The party’s MLAs, led by its provincial president, Ravinder Raina, demanded that the Question Hour be held, arguing that the Waqf Act was a vital issue that needed to be discussed in the House.
The ensuing uproar in the Assembly led to the Speaker adjourning the House for the day. The NC MLAs accused the government of trying to suppress the truth and not allowing the House to discuss the Waqf Act, while the BJP MLAs alleged that the NC was trying to mislead the people on the issue.
The controversy over the Waqf Act has been simmering for some time now, with both the NC and the Congress accusing the government of trying to manipulate the Act to favor a particular community. The Waqf Board, which is responsible for managing the Waqf properties, has also been embroiled in controversy, with allegations of irregularities and mismanagement.
The Waqf Act has been a contentious issue in the state, with different communities having different views on its implementation. The NC and the Congress have accused the government of trying to usurp the powers of the Waqf Board and manipulate the Act to favor a particular community, while the government has denied these allegations.
The controversy over the Waqf Act has also taken a communal turn, with different communities accusing each other of trying to grab the Waqf properties. The NC and the Congress have accused the BJP of trying to divide the people on communal lines, while the BJP has accused the NC and the Congress of trying to mislead the people on the issue.
The adjournment of the Assembly on Monday has left the Waqf Act issue hanging in the balance, with no clear indication of when the House will take it up for discussion. The controversy has also raised questions about the transparency and accountability of the government’s handling of the Waqf Act and the Waqf Board.
In conclusion, the adjournment of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday amid uproar over the Waqf Act highlights the deep-seated controversy surrounding the legislation. The issue has the potential to divide the people of the state on communal lines, and it is essential that the government and the opposition parties work together to resolve the controversy and ensure the transparency and accountability of the Waqf Board’s functioning.
