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 due to an uproar over the Waqf Act. The controversy erupted after Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather denied an adjournment motion moved by National Conference (NC) MLAs, seeking to discuss the contentious Waqf Act.
The drama began when NC MLAs, led by their leader Omar Abdullah, moved a motion to adjourn the Question Hour to discuss the Waqf Act. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs, who have been vocal about their support for the Act, opposed the motion and demanded that the Question Hour be held as scheduled.
The Speaker, however, rejected the NC motion, citing that the House had already discussed the Waqf Act on multiple occasions in the past. This decision did not go down well with the NC MLAs, who were adamant that the Act needed to be discussed and debated in the House.
As the Speaker’s decision sparked angry protests from the NC MLAs, the BJP MLAs also jumped into the fray, demanding that the Question Hour be held as scheduled. The two sides engaged in a heated verbal duel, with neither side willing to back down.
The commotion eventually became unmanageable, and the Speaker was forced to adjourn the House for the day. The adjournment came as a relief to both sides, as the situation was on the verge of spiraling out of control.
The Waqf Act, which was passed by the previous government, has been a contentious issue in the state. The Act seeks to regulate and manage Waqf properties, which are valued at over Rs 100,000 crore. While the government claims that the Act is necessary to protect these properties, opposition parties have raised concerns about the government’s intentions and the potential impact on the properties.
The NC has been vocal in its opposition to the Act, claiming that it is a ploy by the government to grab Waqf properties and use them for personal gain. The party has also accused the government of ignoring the concerns of the Waqf boards and the Muslim community.
The BJP, on the other hand, has been supporting the Act, claiming that it is necessary to bring transparency and accountability to the management of Waqf properties. The party has also accused the NC of trying to politicize the issue and stalling the legislative process.
The debate over the Waqf Act has been ongoing for several months, with both sides refusing to budge. The recent adjournment of the House has only added to the tensions, with many fearing that the controversy could have far-reaching consequences for the state.
In a statement, Omar Abdullah, the NC leader, slammed the Speaker’s decision, saying that it was an attempt to stifle the democratic process. “The Speaker’s decision is a clear attempt to gag the opposition and stifle the democratic process,” he said. “We will not let the government get away with this and will continue to raise our voices against this draconian law.”
The BJP, on the other hand, welcomed the Speaker’s decision, saying that it was necessary to maintain the legislative agenda. “The Speaker’s decision is a correct one,” said a BJP leader. “We cannot let the opposition dictate the legislative agenda. We will continue to support the Waqf Act and ensure that it is implemented smoothly.”
The controversy over the Waqf Act has once again highlighted the deep divisions within the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. The government and the opposition are at loggerheads, with neither side willing to compromise. The situation is unlikely to improve in the near future, and the controversy is likely to continue to dominate the legislative agenda.
