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 sudden disruption in the proceedings was a result of a disagreement between the National Conference (NC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs over the agenda of the day’s proceedings.
The commotion began when National Conference MLAs moved a motion to adjourn the Question Hour to discuss the Waqf Act. The Act, which is aimed at protecting and managing Waqf properties in the state, has been a contentious issue in the state for quite some time. The NC MLAs argued that the Act needed to be revised and discussed in the House, as it was allegedly being misused by certain individuals and organizations.
However, the BJP MLAs were opposed to the NC’s proposal, demanding that the Question Hour be held as scheduled. The BJP leaders argued that the Waqf Act was a central legislation and should not be discussed in the state Assembly. The disagreement between the two parties led to a heated debate, with MLAs from both sides shouting slogans and trying to outdo each other.
The Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather, tried to intervene and restore order in the House, but his efforts were unsuccessful. After several minutes of chaos, the Speaker was forced to adjourn the House, bringing an end to the day’s proceedings.
The adjournment of the House was met with strong reactions from both the NC and the BJP. The NC MLAs accused the BJP of trying to suppress the truth about the Waqf Act and demanded that the Act be revised to ensure its transparency and accountability. The BJP, on the other hand, accused the NC of trying to mislead the people of the state and demanded that the National Conference stop playing politics over the issue.
The controversy surrounding the Waqf Act is not new. The Act was passed in 2013 to protect and manage Waqf properties in the state. However, since its passage, there have been allegations that the Act has been misused by certain individuals and organizations to grab Waqf properties. The NC has been demanding a revision of the Act to address these concerns, but the BJP has been opposing any changes to the Act.
The controversy has also taken a political turn, with both the NC and the BJP trying to score political points over the issue. The NC has accused the BJP of trying to protect its political allies who are allegedly involved in the misuse of Waqf properties. The BJP, on the other hand, has accused the NC of trying to polarize the people of the state along communal lines.
The adjournment of the House has also sparked concerns about the state’s legislative proceedings. The Assembly has been witnessing frequent adjournments and disruptions in the past few months, which has affected its productivity. The opposition parties have been criticizing the government for not taking concrete steps to address the issues facing the state, and the frequent adjournments have only added to their concerns.
In conclusion, the adjournment of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly amid uproar over the Waqf Act highlights the deep-seated divisions within the state’s political landscape. The controversy surrounding the Act is a complex issue that requires a nuanced and bipartisan approach to resolve. The BJP and the NC need to put aside their political differences and work towards finding a solution to this issue, which affects the people of the state.
