Srinagar; Police on Friday thwarted a protest march by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 by sealing off the party headquarters and confining demonstrators within the premises.
Dozens of PDP workers, led by general secretary Khurshid Alam, had gathered near Sher-e-Kashmir Park to voice opposition to the Act, which was passed last week. As they attempted to proceed towards the city centre, police forces intervened, blocking the gates and erecting barricades to restrict their movement.
Holding placards with slogans like “We reject the Waqf Bill” and “NC’s silence is criminal,” the protesters called for the immediate repeal of the Act. Despite the blockade, the protest ended without any confrontation.
Addressing the media, Alam said the party had planned a peaceful protest but was obstructed by police. “We simply wanted to express our dissent against the Waqf Bill, which has been widely rejected across communities. The way it was hurriedly passed in Parliament, under the cover of night, is unacceptable,” he said.
Alam further criticized the BJP for its handling of minority issues and also took aim at the National Conference (NC), accusing it of complicit silence. “While the BJP’s attitude towards Muslims is reprehensible, the NC’s silence is equally shameful. They are misleading people by staying quiet,” he added.
