SRINAGAR: Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara, Sajad Lone, on Monday said he was not surprised by Dr Farooq Abdullah’s recent statement supporting the Assembly Speaker’s decision to disallow discussion on the Waqf Amendment Bill.
In his interaction with the media, Lone highlighted what he described as inconsistencies in the National Conference’s approach to the controversial legislation.
“They have 50 MLAs, the Speaker belongs to their party—I fail to understand whom they were protesting against and raising concerns about within the Assembly. And now Farooq Abdullah comes out in support of the Speaker. This is a mockery,” said Lone.
He said that a historic opportunity was missed to either pass a resolution or at least conduct a meaningful discussion on the Waqf Bill.
“It could have sent a clear message from the only Muslim-majority province in the country. Instead, it appeared as though the NC was fighting against itself, merely to sabotage the discussion and appease New Delhi,” he remarked.
When questioned about the NC’s plans to challenge the Waqf Bill in the Supreme Court, the PC President noted that while the courts will adjudicate according to legal principles, the emotional message that could have been conveyed through the Assembly has been lost.
“As the only Muslim-majority province, our collective voice would have carried weight. But now, even if thousands of individuals approach the court separately, the matter will be decided purely on legal grounds rather than reflecting the sentiments of the people. This situation has arisen because the NC wanted to please BJP MLAs,” Lone added. (KB)
