SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was adjourned till 1 PM on Tuesday after chaotic scenes erupted for the third consecutive day over the contentious Waqf Bill.
As soon as the session began, BJP legislators stormed into the well of the House, demanding no debate and protesting against the National Conference, triggering a ruckus.
Amid loud sloganeering and heated exchanges between the treasury and BJP opposition benches, the Speaker adjourned the House till 1 PM.
The National Conference and its allies in the opposition continue to press for a debate on the Waqf Amendment Bill, while the Speaker has ruled that there is no scope to undo Parliament’s decision and no room for debate.
Meanwhile, BJP MLAs continued to raise slogans against the NC’s resistance to the bill.
The controversy stems from the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2023, in Parliament, which brought significant changes to the administration of Waqf properties across the country.
Opposition parties in JK—particularly the National Conference, PDP, PC, AIP, and their allies—have alleged that the amendment undermines local autonomy and was passed without adequate consultation with stakeholders from the Muslim community.
They argue that it amounts to disempowerment of the people, especially in a region where Waqf properties play a crucial socio-religious role.
The recent visit of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju to Kashmir, and his meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah shortly after the amendment was passed in Parliament, further intensified political tensions. Mehbooba Mufti and other opposition leaders have accused the Centre of deliberately ignoring Muslim sentiments and using the bill as a political tool.
With the ongoing uproar in the Assembly, the opposition has urged the government to bring a resolution rejecting the Waqf amendment. However, the ruling BJP maintains its stance, calling the bill necessary for streamlining the management of Waqf assets and ensuring transparency. (JKNS)
