Zaira Wasim’s Critique of J&K Waqf Board’s Role in ID Event Triggers Heated Debate
Zaira, who stepped away from the film industry in 2019 citing conflicts with her religious beliefs, said she had come across a video clip of August 15 festivities “held for or by the Waqf Board” at a school in Kashmir. In her post, she argued that the Board’s involvement appeared at odds with its stated religious purpose. She described it as “almost comical” that an institution built around communal and spiritual responsibilities would “sit comfortably” through performances she felt a religious body should at least question
SRINAGAR: Former Bollywood actor Zaira Wasim’s pointed criticism of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board (JKWB)’s association with an Independence Day school event has ignited a wide-ranging debate across social media, within Kashmiri circles and far beyond.
Her remarks, posted on ‘X’ on Sunday, questioned whether a religious institution tasked with serving the Muslim community should endorse celebrations featuring children—especially girls—dancing to popular songs.
Zaira, who stepped away from the film industry in 2019 citing conflicts with her religious beliefs, said she had come across a video clip of August 15 festivities “held for or by the Waqf Board” at a school in Kashmir. In her post, she argued that the Board’s involvement appeared at odds with its stated religious purpose. She described it as “almost comical” that an institution built around communal and spiritual responsibilities would “sit comfortably” through performances she felt a religious body should at least question.
The JKWB functions as the apex body responsible for administering and developing a vast network of religious and community assets across the Union Territory. Its mandate covers the management of major Muslim shrines, mosques, graveyards, educational institutions, and an array of other Waqf properties that play a central role in the region’s religious and social life. The Board is currently chaired by Syed Darakhshan Andrabi, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader who has overseen several recent reforms and initiatives aimed at restructuring and modernising Waqf administration. However, she is also frequently accused by critics of turning the JKWB into a “BJP chessboard,” alleging that her decisions and public positioning align the institution too closely with the party’s political interests.
Zaira wrote that the celebrations “reduce our children to stage props and performers,” asking why public events default to making children—“particularly girls”—dance to “irrelevant songs.” Instead, she urged institutions to encourage young people to “think, create, learn, discuss, build or contribute,” especially in a region like Kashmir, which she said has a long legacy of scholarship, intellectual inquiry, and spiritual education.
She emphasised that her concern was not with the children themselves, who often simply participate in whatever schools arrange, but with what institutions choose to endorse. “Perhaps that is the real tragedy here,” she said, adding that a body tied to religious purpose should focus on strengthening communities “spiritually, morally, intellectually.” She concluded by asking whose values the Waqf Board was representing by placing such celebrations under its banner.
Her post quickly gained traction, drawing thousands of likes, reposts, and comments. Many endorsed her argument that the Board’s involvement appeared inconsistent with its religious mandate. The reaction online too has been sharply divided. Supporters of Zaira’s view argue that a religious institution should prioritise moral and spiritual development rather than cultural performances, calling the event a missed opportunity for meaningful engagement. Some echoed her concerns about gender norms and the tendency to place girls at the forefront of dance routines during public celebrations.
Critics, however, accused her of framing a routine Independence Day activity as problematic. Several pointed to her own past as a performer in Bollywood, calling her stance regressive or contradictory. Others argued that the JKWB functions largely as an administrative body managing properties and community assets, not as a strict religious authority. Many defended children’s participation in national festivities, saying that singing and dancing are integral parts of India’s cultural expression and do not conflict with Muslim identity.
Columnist Sonam Mahajan was among those who publicly disagreed with Zaira, describing the remarks as regressive and contrasting them with past Independence Day celebrations in Kashmir where Muslim children participated enthusiastically. Bisma Kirmani, a Kashmiri ‘X’ user said. “It's very sad and unpleasant time when we see our religious scholars quietly watching the nuisance spreading through Muslim people. May Allah guide us all.”
Till the filing of this report, no official response from the JKWB was available where discussions around Zaira’s post continue to unfold across ‘X’ and other social media platforms.