Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly turned into a battleground of slogans on Monday as members from opposing parties shouted religious and political chants over the Speaker’s refusal to allow a discussion on the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Act.
NC, Congress, and PDP legislators raised slogans like “BJP haay haay” and “Bill wapis karo”, while BJP members retaliated with “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, “Vande Mataram”, and “Jaha hua balidan Mukherjee, wo Kashmir hamara hai”. The opposition countered with “Allah hu Akbar” and “Nara-e-Takbeer”, plunging the House into total chaos.
Amid the noisy scenes, NC members Salman Sagar and Aijaz Jan tore up question papers and flung them in the air. In the scuffle, NC MLA Majid Larmi’s black achkan was torn, with party members later waving pieces of it in protest.
The uproar began when Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather rejected an adjournment motion moved by NC legislators Nazir Gurezi and Tanvir Sadiq, backed by nine opposition members from NC, Congress, and Independents. The motion sought to suspend the question hour and allow discussion on the Waqf Bill.
BJP’s Leader of the House, Sunil Sharma, strongly opposed the motion, while Tanvir Sadiq said, “This 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?”
NC’s Kaiser Jamshed Lone and Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary also supported a half-hour discussion on the Bill, but the Speaker cited Rule 58(7) of Assembly procedure, saying that since the matter is sub judice, it cannot be discussed.
“The bill is currently before the Supreme Court. I have received writ petitions. I will not allow an adjournment,” Rather said.
PDP member Wahid Para questioned the decision, citing Tamil Nadu’s Assembly resolution against the Bill. “If Tamil Nadu, with only 6% Muslims, could debate and pass a resolution, why not here in a Muslim-majority region?” he said.
The repeated confrontations led to three adjournments, with the Speaker finally calling off the day’s proceedings. Outside the House, NC, Congress, and CPIM members staged a protest.
“BJP resorted to manhandling in the House. We’re here to raise constitutional concerns, not to wrestle,” said NC’s Altaf Kaloo.
CPIM leader M Y Tarigami said, “We are united as legislators — not as Hindus and Muslims. This Bill threatens secularism, and we urge the people of Jammu and Kashmir to resist divisive politics.”
The dramatic session came two days after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, recently passed by Parliament amid intense debate.
Later, while posting on X, Sagar said, “I and my colleagues @tanvirsadiq , Abdul Majeed LARMI, @altaf_kaloo and others are resubmitting the plea for adjournment motion of business tomorrow and will be demanding discussion on Waqf Amendment Bill – 2025. We want to put forward our reservations against a bill that is explicitly interfering in our religious affairs. Article 25 and Article 26 of the Indian constitution give us every right to act accordingly.”
Sagar later told reporters that “Speaker should have allowed discussion on the Waqf Bill, especially with representation from 50 MLAs of the ruling party.”
Reacting to it, NC members Abid Wani wrote on X, “We believe in secularism and our secularism is dictated 1400 years ago, ” Lakum dinukum waliya din” translates to “For you is your religion, and for me is my religion,” a verse from Surah Al-Kafirun (109:6) in the Quran, emphasizing religious freedom.”
