NC and Opposition Face Off in J&K Assembly Over Waqf Act, House Temporarily Adjourned
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On April 8, chaos erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly as NC and opposition MLAs clashed over the Waqf Act, leading to a 30-minute adjournment. The Speaker denied a debate, citing the matter as sub judice, amid accusations of political maneuvering.
Key Takeaways
- NC and PDP clash over Waqf Act
- Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourns House
- MLAs accuse each other of aligning with BJP
- Discussion on Waqf Amendment Act ruled out
- J&K Assembly budget session ends April 11
Jammu, April 8 (NationPress) Chaotic scenes erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly as MLAs from the ruling National Conference (NC) clashed with legislators from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peoples Conference (PC) regarding the Waqf Act, leading Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to temporarily adjourn the House for 30 minutes on Tuesday.
As the session began, Waheed Para of the PDP and Sajad Gani Lone of the PC stood up in protest, insisting on a discussion about the Waqf Amendment Act.
Verbal exchanges escalated between Salman Sagar of the NC and Sajad Gani Lone, with both accusing one another of ‘aligning with the BJP’.
Despite repeated appeals from the Speaker for the MLAs to return to their seats, tensions escalated as Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) MLA, Khursheed Ahmad, joined the fray alongside Sajad Lone and Waheed Para.
Consequently, the Speaker adjourned the session for 30 minutes, asserting that discussions on the Waqf Amendment Act were off-limits as the matter is sub judice.
Outside the Assembly, Waheed Para criticized Omar Abdullah, the chief minister of the predominantly Muslim state, for not attending the session to lead the debate on the Waqf Amendment Act.
“Instead, the CM opted for a stroll in the tulip garden with the minority affairs minister, who introduced the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha,” Para remarked.
Previously, NC spokesperson and MLA Tanvir Sadiq accused Waheed Para of engaging in ‘politics with the BJP’.
“He is clearly in their favor,” Tanvir Sadiq stated.
Sajad Lone commented, “If the NC believes the Speaker is obstructing genuine issues, they should introduce a no-confidence motion against him, otherwise, it seems like a theatrical performance.”
The 40-day budget session of the J&K Legislative Assembly is set to conclude on April 11.
The NC holds 42 seats, the BJP 29, Congress six, PDP three, CPI(M) one, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) one, AIP one, and PC one. Six Independents were elected, with five joining the NC later.
