Waqf Act Fallout: Ruckus Continue in J&K House; PDP Member Marshalled Out
As prolonged noisy protests persisted and Speaker Abdur Rahim Rather’s repeated pleas to the members to calm down and resume their seats were ignored, and even marshalling Opposition PDP’s Waheed Ur Rehman Parra out did not work, he adjourned the House for the day.
Srinagar: Ruckus continued in Jammu and Kashmir on the second consecutive day on Tuesday, as the National Conference (NC), Congress, PDP and other members disrupted the House over the Speaker’s disallowing adjournment of business to discuss the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
As prolonged noisy protests persisted and Speaker Abdur Rahim Rather’s repeated pleas to the members to calm down and resume their seats were ignored, and even marshalling Opposition PDP’s Waheed Ur Rehman Parra out did not work, he adjourned the House for the day.
Some ministers joined the PDP in demanding a discussion on the Act. After their demand was rejected by the Speaker, the treasury benches did not allow the House to function for the second consecutive day.
On Monday, when the House had resumed for the remaining budget session after a 12-day break for Iid-ul-Fitr and Navratri, the Speaker had surprised all by disallowing an adjournment motion for a discussion on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 passed by Parliament last week on the plea that since it has been challenged in the highest court and the matter was sub-judice.
This had prompted the treasury benches and opposition members except those of the BJP to revolt against the Speaker. Three opposition legislators led by People’s Conference (PC) leader Sajad Gani Lone in view of the Speaker’s “biased behaviour” moved a non-confidence motion against him. While reacting to it, Speaker Rather told reporters on Tuesday that it is the House which will decide.
“What is the problem? They have this right, and the House will decide its fate. If the House has no confidence, then I have no right to be there,” he said. The ruling NC has made it clear that it will not support any such motion in the House.
When the House assembled for the day on Tuesday, NC members led by Salman Sagar and Tanvir Sadiq and the PC’s Lone raised the demand of suspending the routine business to discuss the Waqf Act. The Speaker asked them to allow the Question Hour to begin but NC, Congress, PDP members and Independents trooped into the well of the House, chanting slogans and demanding the withdrawal of the “black law”.
In one voice, they demanded that the House passes a resolution against the Waqf Act which was vital as J&K is a Muslim-majority state and this act is an “onslaught” on the interests of the Muslims of the country. The BJP members strongly opposed any such move.
The Speaker remained adamant on his ruling. He said, “You cannot undo what Parliament has done. No discussion can be held on this. I have not allowed any discussion.” As pandemonium broke out in the House, the Speaker initially adjourned the proceedings for 30 minutes and eventually adjourned it for the day.