The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed chaos on Monday as a debate over the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Act spiraled into a shouting match, with religious and political slogans echoing through the House.
The uproar began when Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather refused to allow a discussion on the Waqf Amendment Bill, citing Rule 58(7) of Assembly procedures. “The bill is currently before the Supreme Court. I have received writ petitions. I will not allow an adjournment,” Rather said.
But opposition parties weren’t having it. National Conference (NC), Congress, and PDP legislators erupted in protest, raising slogans like “BJP haay haay” and “Bill wapis karo”. BJP members responded with “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, “Vande Mataram”, and “Jaha hua balidan Mukherjee, wo Kashmir hamara hai.” Opposition leaders countered with “Allah hu Akbar” and “Nara-e-Takbeer”, plunging the House into complete disarray.
NC members Salman Sagar and Aijaz Jan tore question papers and flung them into the air. In the scuffle, MLA Majid Larmi’s black achkan (long coat) was torn. “This is how far they’ll go to silence us,” said NC’s Tanvir Sadiq, waving the torn cloth outside the House.
Sadiq, along with Nazir Gurezi, had moved an adjournment motion to suspend the day’s business for a discussion on the Waqf Bill, which was supported by nine other opposition members. “This is a religious matter concerning our faith. There is no issue more pressing than this,” he said in the House. “Will you, Speaker, adjourn the House to address this critical issue?”
Even some ruling coalition members appeared sympathetic. Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary and NC’s Kaiser Jamshed Lone backed a half-hour discussion, but Speaker Rather remained firm.
PDP’s Wahid Para questioned the Speaker’s stance. “If Tamil Nadu, with only 6% Muslims, could debate and pass a resolution, why not here in a Muslim-majority region?” he asked.
After three adjournments, the House was finally dismissed for the day.
Outside, NC, Congress, and CPIM legislators held a protest. Altaf Kaloo from NC accused the BJP of “manhandling” lawmakers. “We’re here to raise constitutional concerns, not to wrestle,” he said.
CPIM’s M Y Tarigami added: “We are united as legislators — not as Hindus and Muslims. This Bill threatens secularism. We urge people to resist this divisive politics.”
The dramatic session came just two days after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 — a law many opposition members argue intrudes on Muslim religious affairs.
On X (formerly Twitter), NC’s Salman Sagar posted, “We are resubmitting the plea for adjournment motion tomorrow. We want to put forward our reservations against a bill that is explicitly interfering in our religious affairs. Article 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution give us every right.”
His party colleague, Abid Wani, posted a Quranic verse in response, “We believe in secularism and our secularism is dictated 1400 years ago – ‘Lakum dinukum waliya din’ (For you is your religion, and for me is mine).”
