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 after Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather denied an adjournment motion on the Waqf Act. The move was met with strong protests from the National Conference (NC) MLAs, who had moved the motion to adjourn the Question Hour to discuss the contentious issue. The BJP MLAs, however, also protested, demanding that the Question Hour be held as scheduled.
The Waqf Act, which was introduced by the previous PDP-BJP government, has been a contentious issue in the state for a long time. The Act aims to regulate and manage the Waqf properties, which are considered sacred and are managed by the Waqf Board. However, the NC and other opposition parties have been demanding that the Act be repealed, citing concerns over its implementation and the potential misuse of power by the government.
On Monday, the NC MLAs moved an adjournment motion to discuss the Waqf Act, citing the need to address the concerns and fears of the people. However, the Speaker denied the motion, sparking strong protests from the NC MLAs. The Speaker’s decision was met with loud slogans and demands for a revote, but he refused to relent.
The BJP MLAs, who have been supporting the Waqf Act, also protested the denial of the adjournment motion. They demanded that the Question Hour be held as scheduled, and accused the NC of trying to disrupt the functioning of the House.
The situation soon became chaotic, with MLAs from both sides engaging in heated arguments and sloganeering. The Speaker’s chair was also gheraoed by the NC MLAs, who refused to budge until their demand was met.
The adjournment of the House was finally decided upon, with the Speaker announcing that the session would be adjourned for the day. The decision was met with mixed reactions, with the NC MLAs claiming that the Speaker’s decision was undemocratic and anti-people, while the BJP MLAs hailed it as a victory for the government.
The Waqf Act has been a contentious issue in Jammu and Kashmir for a long time, with various political parties having different views on its implementation. The NC and other opposition parties have been demanding its repeal, citing concerns over its implementation and the potential misuse of power by the government.
On the other hand, the BJP and the PDP have been supporting the Act, citing its importance in regulating and managing the Waqf properties. The Act was introduced in 2013, and since then, it has been a subject of intense debate and controversy.
The controversy surrounding the Waqf Act has its roots in the way it was introduced and implemented. The Act was introduced without consulting the Waqf Board, which is responsible for managing the Waqf properties. The Waqf Board has been demanding that the Act be repealed and a new law be introduced, which takes into account the concerns and fears of the people.
The denial of the adjournment motion by the Speaker has sparked a fresh wave of protests and demands for the repeal of the Waqf Act. The NC MLAs have vowed to continue their struggle against the Act, and have demanded that the government take immediate action to repeal it.
The BJP MLAs, on the other hand, have hailed the Speaker’s decision as a victory for the government and have demanded that the Question Hour be held as scheduled. They have accused the NC MLAs of trying to disrupt the functioning of the House and have demanded that they apologize for their behavior.
The Waqf Act controversy is not likely to die down soon, and it is expected to continue to dominate the political discourse in Jammu and Kashmir. The government will have to take a firm stand on the issue and address the concerns and fears of the people. The Speaker’s decision to deny the adjournment motion has only added to the controversy, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days.
