Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Adjourned Amid Uproar Over Waqf Act
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed a chaotic scene on Monday after Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather denied an adjournment motion on the Waqf Act, leading to the House being adjourned. The National Conference (NC) MLAs had moved a motion to adjourn the Question Hour to discuss the contentious Waqf Act, which has been a subject of controversy in the state.
The NC MLAs, led by party president Farooq Abdullah, had moved the adjournment motion, seeking to discuss the Waqf Act, which they claim is aimed at threatening the religious and cultural identity of the Muslim majority in the state. The Act, which was passed by the previous PDP-BJP government, seeks to replace the existing Waqf Board with a new one and to give it more powers to manage the Waqf properties.
However, the BJP MLAs, who are part of the ruling coalition, protested against the adjournment motion, demanding that the Question Hour be held as scheduled. The BJP MLAs argued that the Waqf Act is a legitimate piece of legislation that has been passed by the state legislature, and that there was no need to adjourn the House to discuss it.
The Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather, denied the adjournment motion, saying that it was not in order. He said that the Waqf Act has already been passed by the House, and that there was no need to discuss it again. The Speaker’s decision led to strong protests from the NC MLAs, who stormed into the Well of the House, shouting slogans and demanding that the Speaker reconsider his decision.
The protests continued for several hours, with the NC MLAs refusing to return to their seats until the Speaker agreed to reconsider his decision. The BJP MLAs, however, remained seated in their seats, shouting slogans in support of the Waqf Act.
The adjournment of the House led to a stalemate, with neither side willing to budge. The NC MLAs have vowed to continue their fight against the Waqf Act, while the BJP MLAs have vowed to defend the Act and ensure that it is implemented in its entirety.
The controversy over the Waqf Act has been ongoing for several months, with the NC and other opposition parties alleging that the Act is aimed at threatening the religious and cultural identity of the Muslim majority in the state. The BJP, on the other hand, has defended the Act, saying that it is aimed at streamlining the management of Waqf properties and ensuring that they are used for the benefit of the Muslim community.
The controversy has also led to a political standoff between the NC and the BJP, with the two parties trading charges and counter-charges. The NC has accused the BJP of trying to divide the Muslims and Hindus in the state, while the BJP has accused the NC of trying to create communal tensions and undermine the authority of the state government.
The Waqf Act has been a major issue in the state, with many Muslims opposing it and many Hindus supporting it. The controversy has also led to a significant amount of tension and polarization in the state, with many people taking sides on the issue.
The adjournment of the House has also raised concerns about the functioning of the state legislature, with many people questioning the ability of the Speaker to manage the House and maintain order. The controversy has also led to calls for greater transparency and accountability in the functioning of the state government.
In conclusion, the adjournment of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly amid uproar over the Waqf Act is a significant development in the state’s politics. The controversy over the Act has raised concerns about the religious and cultural identity of the Muslim majority in the state, and has led to a political standoff between the NC and the BJP. The issue has also raised concerns about the functioning of the state legislature and the ability of the Speaker to manage the House and maintain order.
