Chaos, religious sloganeering in Jammu & Kashmir assembly as Speaker bars Waqf Act debate

The Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Monday witnessed disruptions and exchange of religious and jingoistic sloganeering between Kashmir-based parties and the BJP after speaker Abdul Rahim Rather disallowed discussion on the Waqf (Amendment) Act, saying the matter is sub judice.

Rather, who is from the ruling National Conference, rejected an adjournment motion moved by his party's legislators Nazir Gurezi and Tanvir Sadiq to discuss the Act leading to chaos.

Opposition People's Democratic Party and People's Conference alleged that NC has yielded to BJP's anti-Muslim agenda while BJP accused the ruling party of "playing to the media galleries" to mislead the people of Kashmir Valley.


The house was adjourned twice amid the pandemonium to reconvene. The third time, the speaker adjourned the house for the day.

A notice for the motion was given to the speaker by nine members from the ruling alliance including NC, Congress, and independents.

Leader of the opposition, BJP's Sunil Sharma, opposed the motion, triggering an uproar with the ruling alliance parties and BJP shouting at each other and sloganeering. "It is a religious matter concerning our faith. There is no issue more pressing than this. Will you, speaker, adjourn the house to address this critical issue?" Sadiq said. PDP's Waheed Para said, "Tamil Nadu Assembly has passed a resolution on it. The house should act accordingly."