Uproar in J&K Assembly Over Waqf Amendment Act; AIP, PDP, and JKPC Target NC Over Speaker’s Role
Srinagar, April 8:
Tensions ran high in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Tuesday for the second consecutive day as lawmakers clashed over the Waqf Amendment Act. Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) MLA Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh accused the ruling National Conference (NC) of colluding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), calling the situation a “fixed match.”
“This is a fixed match between the BJP and the NC,” Sheikh alleged, criticising the absence of the Leader of the House, who he claimed was “busy welcoming BJP leaders at the Tulip Garden” instead of participating in legislative proceedings.
As demands to debate the Waqf Act intensified, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the House till 1 PM amid growing chaos. Sheikh also revealed that 5–6 MLAs had submitted a no-confidence motion against the Speaker, accusing him of being biased. “If the NC is sincere about debating the Waqf Bill and passing the seven pending resolutions, they should sign the motion and replace the Speaker,” he said.
The controversy stems from the recently passed reforms to the Waqf Board, which several parties, including the PDP and JKPC, have opposed. On Monday, an NC MLA tore a copy of the bill in protest inside the House.
Today, PDP MLA Waheed Para and other party members entered the Well of the House, displaying documents related to their resolution seeking repeal of the Waqf Act. They were subsequently marshalled out. NC members who also reached the Well engaged in a heated argument with Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC) chief Sajad Lone.
Lone lashed out at the NC-led government, stating, “If NC is serious about a debate on the Waqf Act, they should replace the Speaker they elected. Their demand for discussion reeks of political theatre.”
Lone criticised Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather for disallowing the debate under Rule 58, calling it a contradiction to the NC’s public position. “We want a resolution. J&K is the only Muslim-majority region in India. A message must be sent from here—but the Speaker is not ready,” he said.
Meanwhile, NC MLA Altaf Kaloo had moved an adjournment motion seeking time to speak, but the Speaker did not respond, further intensifying frustrations across opposition benches.
The continued disruptions have stalled the legislative agenda, with multiple key resolutions yet to be discussed.
