Chaos Erupts in J&K Assembly as Waqf Act Sparks Heated Confrontation
A major political storm erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday over the contentious Waqf Act, leading to fierce protests and dramatic scenes on the House floor. The uproar began after Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather rejected an adjournment motion filed by National Conference (NC) legislators seeking a debate on the new law, citing procedural rules.
The Speaker invoked Rules 56 and 58(7), emphasizing that any issue currently under judicial review, particularly one pending before the Supreme Court, cannot be tabled for discussion through an adjournment motion. “As the matter is sub-judice and I have received official confirmation, we cannot allow a debate in this format,” he clarified.
This ruling sparked intense backlash from NC members, who stormed the well of the House shouting slogans like “Modi Sarkar hai hai!” The commotion forced the Assembly to briefly adjourn for 15 minutes before resuming in a tense atmosphere.
In a display of defiance, NC MLAs Hilal Lone and Salman Sagar tore up copies of the Waqf Act on the Assembly floor. Emotions peaked when fellow party member Abdul Majeed Larmi ripped his jacket in protest, symbolizing his outrage. Speaking to India Today, Larmi declared, “Just as the farm laws were repealed, this Waqf law must also be withdrawn. We will not allow normal proceedings until it’s scrapped. It has deeply wounded our religious sentiments.”
The Opposition, however, hit back at the theatrics. Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma labeled the adjournment motion “constitutionally untenable” and reminded the House that the Waqf law had already passed through Parliament and received presidential assent. “With the matter currently before the judiciary, this Assembly has no jurisdiction to entertain it,” he said.
Adding to the controversy, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti criticized the Speaker’s decision as “deeply troubling,” accusing the NC-Congress alliance of surrendering to the BJP’s “divisive politics.” She accused the alliance of attempting to appease both sides rather than standing firm against what she described as an “anti-Muslim agenda.”
The Assembly session continues under a cloud of tension as the debate around the Waqf Act intensifies, signaling more turbulent days ahead in Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape.
