“PDP Submits Fresh Resolution in J&K Assembly Urging Repeal of Waqf Act, Says Issue Transcends Matters of Faith”
PDP Submits Fresh Resolution in J&K Assembly Seeking Repeal of Waqf Amendment Act
Srinagar, April 9:
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday submitted a fresh resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, urging the Union Government to repeal the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The move comes amid growing political opposition and escalating tensions in the Assembly over the legislation.
PDP President Mehbooba Mufti strongly condemned the Act, claiming it “transcends matters of faith” and constitutes a direct assault on the rights, beliefs, and dignity of the country’s 24 crore Muslims. “As the only Muslim-majority region in India, Jammu and Kashmir must rise to the occasion and defend the rights of its people,” Mufti said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), tagging Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Calling on the Chief Minister, the Assembly, and the J&K administration to show political resolve, Mufti urged the government to take the issue seriously and ensure that the people’s voice is not ignored. “This Act is not just about faith—it is about identity, dignity, and constitutional rights,” she wrote.
Chaos erupted in the Assembly soon after the resolution was submitted, as Opposition parties—including the PDP and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP)—demanded a debate on the Act. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, however, denied the adjournment motion under Rule 58, leading to widespread protests on the Assembly floor. The House was adjourned for 30 minutes amid the uproar.
PDP MLA Waheed Para was marshalled out of the House while staging a protest. Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Para accused the National Conference-led government of facilitating the BJP’s agenda. “The Waqf Bill targets our mosques, dargahs, and cemeteries. The government is refusing to even allow a discussion. This silence is complicity,” he said.
“There is no legal bar on the Assembly taking up a resolution against the Waqf Act. Yet the Speaker, citing Rule 58, denied the motion, even though nearly 20 MLAs supported it. This is a deliberate attempt to stifle Muslim voices in the legislature,” Para added.
The controversy surrounding the Waqf (Amendment) Act has sparked backlash from multiple quarters. Apart from regional parties, national outfits like the Congress and AIMIM have filed petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the Act’s implementation.
The PDP’s renewed push in the Assembly signals intensifying resistance from Opposition parties, as they seek to rally support against what they see as an infringement on religious autonomy and community rights.
