Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Adjourned Amid Uproar Over Waqf Act
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed a chaotic scene on Monday, as an adjournment motion on the Waqf Act led to a noisy protest by National Conference (NC) lawmakers, which was met with counter-protest by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Speaker of the House, Abdul Rahim Rather, denied the adjournment motion, leading to the House being adjourned.
The drama unfolded when the NC lawmakers moved an adjournment motion to suspend the Question Hour to discuss the Waqf Act, which has been a contentious issue in the state. The Waqf Act, also known as the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf (Amendment) Bill, aims to regulate and manage the Waqf properties in the state. However, the NC lawmakers have been opposing the bill, claiming it is an attempt to dilute the powers of the Waqf Board.
The NC lawmakers, led by their leader, Omar Abdullah, vehemently protested the denial of the adjournment motion, shouting slogans and demanding that the Speaker allow a discussion on the Waqf Act. However, their protests were met with counter-protests from the BJP lawmakers, who demanded that the Question Hour be held as scheduled.
The situation in the Assembly soon became unruly, with lawmakers from both sides engaging in heated arguments and shouting matches. The Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather, attempted to restore order, but his efforts were unsuccessful. Finally, the House was adjourned for the day, much to the disappointment of the NC lawmakers.
The Waqf Act has been a contentious issue in the state, with both the NC and the BJP having different views on the bill. The NC has been opposing the bill, claiming it is an attempt to undermine the powers of the Waqf Board and give more control to the government. On the other hand, the BJP has been supporting the bill, claiming it is necessary to regulate and manage the Waqf properties in the state.
The Waqf Act has been a long-pending issue in the state, with several versions of the bill having been tabled in the Assembly in the past. However, the bill has always been met with opposition from the NC and other parties, leading to its repeated rejection.
The recent move by the BJP to reintroduce the bill has sparked a fresh controversy in the state, with the NC and other parties accusing the government of trying to push through the bill without proper discussion and debate. The NC has also accused the government of trying to undermine the powers of the Waqf Board and give more control to the government.
The BJP, on the other hand, has been defending the bill, claiming it is necessary to regulate and manage the Waqf properties in the state. The party has also accused the NC of trying to block the bill to satisfy its own political interests.
The adjournment of the House on Monday has once again highlighted the deep divisions within the Assembly over the Waqf Act. The controversy is likely to continue, with the NC and the BJP refusing to back down from their respective positions.
As the controversy continues to rage, it remains to be seen how the government will proceed with the Waqf Act. Will the government be able to push through the bill despite opposition from the NC and other parties, or will it be forced to reconsider its stance? Only time will tell.
