Ruckus inside J&K Assembly continues for second day over Waqf Act
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed another day of ruckus and adjournments on Tuesday as opposition parties continued to demand a discussion on the Waqf Act, leading to the assembly being adjourned for 30 minutes. This is the second consecutive day that the Assembly has witnessed disruptions over the contentious issue.
The ruckus began in the morning when National Conference (NC) MLAs moved a motion to adjourn Question Hour to discuss the Waqf Act. However, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather denied the motion, leading to protests from the opposition benches. The NC MLAs, led by party president Farooq Abdullah, rose from their seats and started shouting slogans, demanding a discussion on the Act.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other opposition parties also joined the protest, demanding that the Speaker allow a discussion on the Waqf Act. The protests continued for some time, with the Speaker repeatedly trying to restore order in the House.
However, the Assembly was eventually adjourned for 30 minutes by the Speaker, following which the opposition parties continued to protest outside the Assembly building. The NC MLAs also held a meeting with the Deputy Speaker, demanding that he convene a special session of the Assembly to discuss the Waqf Act.
The Waqf Act has been a contentious issue in Jammu and Kashmir for some time now. The Act, which was passed in 1994, aimed to protect and manage the Waqf properties in the state. However, the opposition parties have been demanding changes to the Act, claiming that it is being misused by the government to grab Waqf properties.
The NC, in particular, has been vocal about its opposition to the Act, claiming that it is being used to benefit the government and its allies. The party has also accused the government of not taking any concrete steps to protect the Waqf properties and ensure their proper management.
The BJP, which has been a vocal supporter of the Waqf Act, has been at loggerheads with the NC over the issue. The party has claimed that the NC is trying to politicize the issue and that the Act is necessary to ensure the proper management of Waqf properties.
The ruckus in the Assembly has been a major embarrassment for the government, which has been trying to push through various bills and legislations in the state. The government had hoped to use the Assembly session to pass important bills, including the Waqf Act, but the opposition’s protests have put a damper on its plans.
The situation is unlikely to improve in the near future, with the opposition parties showing no signs of backing down. The NC has already announced that it will continue to protest until the government agrees to discuss the Waqf Act. The BJP, on the other hand, is expected to continue to support the government on the issue.
As the stalemate continues, it remains to be seen how long the government will be able to hold out against the opposition’s protests. The situation is likely to have far-reaching consequences for the state, with the Waqf Act being a highly emotive issue in Jammu and Kashmir.
