J&K Assembly Waqf Act: Amid heated exchanges in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on the need for a discussion on the Waqf Act, three Opposition members on Tuesday submitted a notice to the Assembly Secretariat expressing their intent to move a resolution for the removal of Abdul Rahim Rather as Speaker. Addressed to the Assembly Secretary, the notice was signed by Sajad Ghani Lone of the Peoples Conference and Mir Mohammad Fayaz and Rafiq Ahmed Naik of the People’s Democratic Party. “The decision stems from widespread outrage within the House over the Speaker’s actions, including the rejection of discussions on an adjournment motion and the refusal to entertain a resolution brought forward by the Opposition parties,” read the notice. “Such conduct undermines the democratic principles and procedures governing this esteemed institution, prompting this resolution to address the matter,” it read. There was pandemonium in the Assembly on Tuesday, with PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para marshalled out of the House, ruling National Conference legislators pressing for a discussion on the Waqf Act, and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary accusing the Chair of not allowing members to speak. When the House assembled in the morning and the Speaker asked a BJP member to put forward his question, NC members stood up, insisting that they be allowed to speak on the Act. The Speaker had already disallowed their adjournment motion on Monday. At this, Para came near the Well of the House, drawing the Speaker’s attention to the fact that he had moved a fresh resolution against the Waqf Act. The Speaker: “Koi resolution nahi la sakte aap (You cannot bring any resolution).” As Para continued to push for his fresh resolution, NC’s Abdul Majid Larmi came forward and tried to push Para to his seat. This prompted People’s Conference MLA Sajad Lone to come to Para’s support, even as the Speaker continued asking the PDP legislator to return to his seat. When Para did not move, the Speaker asked marshalls to take him out of the House. Unruly scenes continued, however, with NC legislators sticking to their demand to speak on the Act. “You cannot undo what Parliament has done,” the Speaker said, asking members to return to their seats. During the chaos, the House also witnessed heated exchanges between Lone and NC’s Salman Sagar after the former talked about Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and NC leader Farooq Abdullah meeting Union Law Minister Kiren Rijju in Srinagar. Lone also reminded Sagar of his party’s alliance with the BJP in the past. In the din, BJP member Pawan Gupta entered the Well of the House and sat there for a while before returning to his seat. Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rasheed was also seen standing at the entrance of the Well along with NC members, raising the slogan “Kala kanoon vapas lo (Withdraw the black law).” As repeated pleas by the Speaker asking legislators to take their seats fell on deaf ears, he adjourned the House for 30 minutes at 10.22 am. When the House reassembled after 30 minutes and NC members again stood up on their seats, the Speaker, citing provisions of the Business Conduct Rules, said that no issue can be discussed in the House which is not of its primarily concern. As agitating members did not listen, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary stood up, asking the Speaker to allow members speak on the issue. ”This is the concern of the members of the House. We are elected public representatives, but you don’t allow them (agitating NC members) to speak,” he said, adding, “BJP ke kehne pe yeh House nahi chalega (The proceedings will not be dictated by the BJP).” As nothing was audible in the din, the Speaker again adjourned the House till 1 pm. Around 1.10 pm, the House re-assembled again, only to be adjourned for the day as the din continued. Later, outside the House, Para said, “Jammu Kashmir is the only Muslim-majority state, and its CM is also a Muslim. We should have passed a resolution the way Tamil Nadu and Karnataka assembled have passed against the Waqf Act. This is the issue of mosques, muslim shrines and graveyards. The NC has 50 MLAs, and they are doing drama there (in the House).”
