J&K Assembly session ends amid noisy scenes over Waqf law

Debate over Waqf Amendment Act causes uproar in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, with parties divided on issue.

The issue of the Waqf Amendment Act sparked noisy scenes for the third consecutive day in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday (April 9, 2025), with the ruling National Conference (NC) and regional parties seeking a debate and the BJP opposing the same.

A commotion broke out when several NC MLAs stood up and sought discussion on the Act on the concluding day of the 21-day Assembly session. In protest, the BJP MLAs stormed into the Well of the House and staged a sit-in. Speaker Rahim Rather adjourned the House sine die as the high-pitch protests failed to subside.

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“The biggest issue for Muslims is not roads or electricity. It’s about mosques, faith, Islam, shrines, and graves. Fifty Muslim MLAs can’t stand united to pass a resolution against the Waqf Amendment Act. It’s unfortunate that the House failed to address the sentiments of Muslims,” the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party MLA, Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, said.

J&K Peoples Conference president and MLA Sajad Lone accused the NC of “theatrics”. “J&K is the only Muslim-majority region in the country. A strong message should go from here. History will judge them [NC] harshly if they fail to uphold the dignity of such matters. The NC’s words and actions are clearly different,” Mr. Lone said.

Leader of the Opposition and BJP MLA Sunil Sharma accused the NC of “trying to shield their relatives and workers, who have encroached on Waqf land”. 

“The NC is least concerned about the Waqf law. It is trying to divert attention as the party wants to protect their relatives and workers, who have encroached on the lands. It’s land jihad,” Mr. Sharma said.