Ruckus Over Waqf Act Forces Repeated Adjournments in J&K Assembly; PDP MLA Marshalled Out
Srinagar, Apr 8: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was adjourned twice on Tuesday amid unruly scenes sparked by protests over the disallowance of an adjournment motion seeking discussion on the Waqf Amendment Act.
For the second consecutive day, opposition parties, including the National Conference (NC), Congress, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and Independents, disrupted proceedings, demanding a debate on the controversial legislation. As the House convened, NC leaders Salman Sagar, Tanvir Sadiq, and Peoples Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone raised the demand to suspend normal business to take up the Waqf issue.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather urged members to allow the Question Hour, but opposition MLAs stormed the well of the House, chanting slogans and calling for the withdrawal of what they termed a “black law.” PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra led the protest, carrying a copy of the resolution and demanding its immediate passage. His actions prompted the Speaker to direct Marshals to evict him from the House.
“I was demanding the passage of the resolution on a matter that affects our religious institutions. It is unfortunate that the Speaker had me removed,” Parra told reporters outside the Assembly.
The situation escalated further when NC MLA Abdul Majid Larmi accused Parra of being an “RSS agent,” triggering a heated exchange with other opposition legislators, including Sheikh Khursheed. As the uproar intensified, the House was adjourned for 30 minutes. When it reassembled, chaos persisted, forcing another adjournment till 1 PM.
On Monday, nine MLAs had submitted notices to the Speaker seeking to suspend business and initiate a debate on the Waqf Bill. However, the Speaker ruled the motion inadmissible, citing its sub-judice status and referring to Rule 58(9), which bars discussion on matters not primarily concerning the government.
“You cannot undo what Parliament has passed. No discussion is allowed,” Speaker Rather reiterated.
However, the government appeared divided over the issue. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary acknowledged the seriousness of the concerns raised by legislators, stating, “If the members are concerned, it becomes the concern of the government too. They should be heard.”
Echoing this, Ministers Javed Dar and Sakina Itoo said the matter indeed falls within the government’s purview. NC MLA Nazir Gurezi argued that since the Supreme Court had not yet admitted the case, the Assembly could deliberate on it.
BJP legislator Sham Lal Sharma and PC’s Sajad Lone countered the protests by suggesting that if treasury benches were dissatisfied with the Speaker, they should move a no-confidence motion.
The ongoing uproar underscores the growing political tension around the Waqf Amendment Act, with opposition parties uniting to demand a formal debate, while the ruling establishment struggles to maintain order in the Assembly.
