Asif Iqbal Naik
Jammu, February 20, 2026: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday clarified in the Legislative Assembly that the recent order issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar regarding regulation of charity donations during Ramadan was not arbitrary, but based on inputs from local religious leaders and committees.
Speaking in the House, the Chief Minister said that during Thursday’s proceedings, MLAs, including those from Bandipora, had raised objections, alleging that the government was interfering in religious matters following the DC’s order.
“I looked into the matter and found that the DC did not issue the order on his own,” Omar Abdullah said. He explained that ahead of Ramadan, a meeting was convened in which all Deputy Commissioners were directed to coordinate with local stakeholders and ensure necessary preparations for the holy month.
The Chief Minister stated that during the meeting in Kishtwar, religious leaders informed the administration that several NGOs surface only during Ramadan to collect donations. “They collect money in the name of patients or charity, but there is no accountability regarding where the funds are used. Sometimes, it is not even known whether the patient in whose name money is raised is alive or not,” he said.
He added that such practices not only result in misuse of funds but also undermine genuine NGOs that function transparently. According to the Chief Minister, local religious bodies and committees themselves requested the Deputy Commissioner to regulate the process in order to prevent fraud and ensure accountability.
“After taking their inputs, the DC issued the order, which has also been welcomed by local bodies and religious leaders,” he said.
Urging legislators not to politicise every matter, Omar Abdullah remarked, “We should not mix religion with politics. Some issues require dialogue and understanding at the local level rather than political confrontation.”
He emphasised that the intent behind the order was to ensure transparency and protect the sanctity of charitable contributions during Ramadan, while safeguarding public trust and preventing misuse of donations.
