‘Anti-Muslim agenda’: Mehbooba slams JK assembly speaker for rejecting Waqf Bill motion

Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday expressed strong disappointment over the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker’s decision to reject a motion seeking debate on the Waqf Bill, calling it a clear indication of the government’s submission to the BJP’s “anti-Muslim agenda.”

“Despite enjoying a strong mandate, the government appears to have completely yielded to the BJP’s communal politics. This isn’t governance — it’s a calculated attempt to appease both sides while doing justice to none,” Mehbooba said in a statement.

She criticised the ruling alliance for lacking the courage to even initiate a discussion on a matter as sensitive and significant as the Waqf Bill, especially in the country’s only Muslim-majority region.

Drawing a contrast with Tamil Nadu, where the state government has strongly opposed the bill, Mehbooba said J&K’s silence on the issue was both “disturbing and telling.”

“The Speaker’s refusal to allow debate exposes the hollow claims of a people-centric government. When it comes to protecting community institutions, their commitment simply evaporates,” she said.

The Waqf Bill has stirred controversy nationwide, with several Muslim leaders and rights groups warning that the proposed changes would lead to centralised control and weaken community-led religious endowments