J&K Speaker Slams Waqf Bill, Calls It a Violation of Religious Rights
Jammu, April 4: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather has strongly criticized the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, stating that it violates the constitutional right to freedom of religion. His remarks came during the budget session of the Union Territory’s Legislative Assembly in Jammu on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters, Rather asserted that the bill infringes upon Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of religion. “This bill directly violates Article 25, which ensures the right to freely practice and propagate one’s religion. It is not appropriate to interfere in personal laws,” he said.
Article 25 of the Constitution grants all individuals the freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practice, and propagate their faith without government interference.
The contentious Waqf bill was passed in the Lok Sabha late Wednesday night following a 12-hour-long debate. While the BJP and its allies supported the legislation, opposition parties under the INDIA bloc voted against it.
Several regional political parties, including the National Conference (NC), People’s Conference (PC), and People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have also strongly opposed the bill.
