Ruckus inside J&K Assembly continues for second day over Waqf Act
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed a ruckus for the second consecutive day on Tuesday as opposition parties continued to demand a discussion on the Waqf Act. The Assembly was adjourned for 30 minutes after Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather denied a motion moved by National Conference MLAs to adjourn Question Hour to discuss the Waqf Act.
On Monday, the Assembly was also adjourned after the Speaker denied the motion, leading to a protest by the opposition parties. The National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Congress parties had moved the motion, seeking a discussion on the Waqf Act, which they claimed was a “threat to the rights of the minority community”.
The Waqf Act, which was introduced in the Assembly last week, aims to regulate and supervise the management of Waqf properties in Jammu and Kashmir. The opposition parties have been criticizing the government for not consulting them before introducing the bill, and have accused the administration of trying to “disenfranchise” the minority community.
On Tuesday, the National Conference MLA, Ali Mohammad Sagar, moved a similar motion in the Assembly, seeking to adjourn the proceedings to discuss the Waqf Act. However, the Speaker denied the motion, leading to a heated debate between the opposition parties and the government.
The opposition parties alleged that the government was trying to suppress their voice and that the Waqf Act was a “black law” that would harm the interests of the minority community. They also accused the government of not being transparent about the introduction of the bill and of not consulting them before introducing the bill.
The government, on the other hand, defended the introduction of the Waqf Act, saying that it was necessary to regulate the management of Waqf properties in the state. The government claimed that the opposition parties were trying to create a controversy over the issue and that the Waqf Act was in the interest of the minority community.
The debate in the Assembly was marked by heated exchanges between the opposition parties and the government, with both sides accusing each other of being dishonest and trying to mislead the people. The opposition parties also staged a walkout from the Assembly, protesting against the Speaker’s decision to deny their motion.
The ruckus in the Assembly is likely to continue for some time, with the opposition parties demanding a discussion on the Waqf Act and the government refusing to budge. The situation is also likely to have an impact on the functioning of the Assembly, with the opposition parties threatening to disrupt the proceedings if their demands are not met.
The Waqf Act is a sensitive issue in Jammu and Kashmir, with the minority community fearing that it would be used to take away their rights and properties. The opposition parties have been criticizing the government for not consulting them before introducing the bill and for trying to “disenfranchise” the minority community.
The government, on the other hand, claims that the Waqf Act is necessary to regulate the management of Waqf properties in the state. The government has also accused the opposition parties of trying to create a controversy over the issue and of being dishonest in their criticism of the bill.
In conclusion, the ruckus in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly over the Waqf Act is likely to continue for some time, with the opposition parties demanding a discussion on the bill and the government refusing to budge. The situation is likely to have an impact on the functioning of the Assembly and is also likely to affect the relationship between the opposition parties and the government.
News Source:
https://x.com/PTI_News/status/1909466888100274623
