Srinagar: Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has strongly criticised the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker for refusing to allow a discussion on the Waqf Bill, calling it “ridiculous and condemnable” that the only Muslim-majority region in India is shying away from debating an issue of deep concern to its Muslim population.
In a statement issued on Monday, Mirwaiz said, “It is shocking that Tamil Nadu, with just a 6% Muslim population, had the courage to pass a strong anti-Waqf resolution in its Assembly, while the J&K Assembly Speaker is hiding behind technicalities to avoid discussing the same.”
He accused the Speaker of failing the people who had placed their trust in the ruling party, expecting it to stand up for their rights after the disempowerment of August 2019.
“The Speaker must know that the overwhelming mandate given to his party was rooted in a promise to safeguard the interests of the people. Yet today, when it matters most, there is complete silence. Why is he capitulating so meekly?” Mirwaiz asked.
He added that the refusal to even allow debate on the Waqf Bill raises serious questions about the government’s sincerity and its willingness to protect institutions central to the community’s identity and welfare.
The Waqf Bill has been criticised by several Muslim leaders and organisations who say it paves the way for centralised control over religious endowments, undermining community autonomy.
