Jammu & Kashmir Assembly adjourned amid uproar over Waqf Act
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed a chaotic scene on Monday as the House was adjourned amidst loud protests and heated debates over the Waqf Act. The National Conference (NC) MLAs moved an adjournment motion to discuss the contentious issue, but the Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather, denied their request, leading to a massive uproar in the House.
The drama unfolded during the Question Hour when NC MLAs, led by party president Farooq Abdullah, demanded that the House be adjourned to discuss the Waqf Act, which they claimed was a threat to the religious and cultural heritage of the Kashmir Valley. The NC has been vocal about its opposition to the Act, which it believes is an attempt to centralize the administration of Waqf properties, including mosques, shrines, and other religious institutions.
However, the BJP, which is a key ally of the ruling PDP, strongly opposed the adjournment motion and demanded that the Question Hour be held as scheduled. The BJP leaders argued that the Waqf Act was a central legislation and the Assembly had no business discussing it.
As the debate turned heated, the Speaker denied the adjournment motion, citing the Assembly’s rules and procedures. This move infuriated the NC MLAs, who began to shout slogans and demand that the Speaker reconsider his decision. The BJP MLAs, meanwhile, remained steadfast in their opposition to the adjournment motion and demanded that the House continue with the Question Hour.
The situation quickly spun out of control, with both sides refusing to back down. The Speaker’s decision was seen as a major setback for the NC, which has been leading the charge against the Waqf Act. The party’s MLAs were visibly agitated, with some of them threatening to boycott the Assembly’s proceedings if their demands were not met.
The BJP, on the other hand, seemed determined to push its agenda, despite the opposition from the NC. The party’s MLAs remained firm in their stance, arguing that the Waqf Act was a central legislation and the Assembly had no jurisdiction to discuss it.
As the debate continued to rage, the House was eventually adjourned for the day. The NC MLAs walked out of the Assembly in protest, while the BJP MLAs remained behind, still demanding that the Question Hour be held as scheduled.
The adjournment of the House has sparked widespread criticism, with many political analysts predicting that the controversy over the Waqf Act will only continue to escalate in the coming days. The NC has vowed to continue its fight against the Act, while the BJP has reiterated its commitment to implementing the legislation.
The crisis has also raised questions about the legitimacy of the Waqf Act, which was passed by the Centre last year. The Act has been criticized for being unconstitutional and an attempt to centralize the administration of Waqf properties. Many have argued that the Act is a threat to the religious and cultural heritage of the Kashmir Valley, and that it will lead to the erosion of the region’s autonomy.
The controversy over the Waqf Act has also highlighted the deep-seated divisions between the NC and the BJP. The two parties have been bitter political rivals for decades, and their differences over the Waqf Act have only served to exacerbate their already strained relations.
In the coming days, it remains to be seen how the crisis will be resolved. The NC has vowed to continue its fight against the Waqf Act, while the BJP is determined to implement the legislation. The Centre, meanwhile, has been largely silent on the issue, leaving many to wonder what its role will be in resolving the crisis.
