Omar Abdullah Firmly Opposes Waqf (Amendment) Bill
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Synopsis
Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, reiterated his strong opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill during a media interaction, emphasizing that it is unacceptable to him. He also inaugurated a free bus service for women, highlighting new initiatives by his government.
Key Takeaways
- Omar Abdullah opposes the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
- The bill is set for discussion in the Lok Sabha on April 2.
- Free bus services for women were launched in Jammu & Kashmir.
- The government will compensate transport agencies for the service.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah is visiting J&K next week.
Srinagar, April 1 (NationPress) J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated on Tuesday that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is unacceptable to him, and he will consistently oppose it.
“The Waqf Amendment Bill is not acceptable to me, and I will always oppose it,” the Chief Minister asserted while speaking to reporters during an official event after launching the complimentary bus service for women.
Previously, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill will be presented in the Lok Sabha on April 2 (Wednesday), immediately following the Question Hour, followed by an extensive discussion lasting up to eight hours.
During discussions with the media, the Minister for Minority Affairs remarked: “Some members requested six hours, while others sought four hours for the discussion. Conversely, the Opposition insisted on 12 hours; however, a general agreement was made for an eight-hour discussion on the bill. Depending on the sentiments of the House, the Speaker could opt to extend it as well.
In the meantime, the Chief Minister inaugurated the complimentary bus services for women in Jammu & Kashmir at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.
He was joined by Minister for Social Welfare and Education, Sakina Itoo, Advisor to Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA, Zadibal, Tanveer Sadiq, and other officials.
Omar Abdullah characterized the free bus service for women as a remarkable initiative by his government, stating that the complimentary services will be available starting Tuesday across all districts of Jammu & Kashmir.
He mentioned that his government will reimburse the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) and Smart Bus Transport agencies for offering the free service.
Responding to a query, Omar Abdullah clarified that the upcoming visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah is unrelated to the Kathua encounter.
He expressed optimism regarding the Union Home Minister’s visit.
Amit Shah is scheduled to visit J&K next week, with his arrival preceding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on April 19, during which PM Modi will inaugurate the 272-km-long Katra-Baramulla Vande Bharat train service.
The project features the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River in Ramban district and the Anji Khad cable-stayed railway bridge in Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir.
This marks India's first cable-stayed railway bridge.
The bridge is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.
