Daijiworld Media Network- Srinagar

Srinagar, Apr 8: Chaos erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Tuesday as legislators from the ruling National Conference (NC) and opposition parties clashed over the contentious Waqf Amendment Act, forcing Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to adjourn the House for 30 minutes.

Tensions flared as soon as the day's session commenced, with PDP leader Waheed Para and Peoples Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone demanding a discussion on the Waqf Act. Heated arguments broke out between Lone and NC’s Salman Sagar, with both accusing each other of toeing the BJP’s line.

Despite repeated pleas from Speaker Rather to restore order, the ruckus escalated with Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) MLA Khursheed Ahmad joining the opposition voices. The Speaker, citing that the matter was sub judice, refused to permit a discussion, leading to the adjournment.

Outside the Assembly, Waheed Para criticized Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s absence from the House, stating, “As the head of the only Muslim-majority state in the country, he should have been here leading the discussion, not taking a walk in the tulip garden with the minority affairs minister.”

In a scathing response, NC spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq alleged that Para was “playing into the BJP’s hands,” while PC’s Sajad Lone questioned NC’s stance: “If the Speaker is not allowing a discussion on a genuine issue, NC should move a no-confidence motion. Otherwise, this appears to be mere theatrics.”

The 40-day budget session of the J&K Assembly is scheduled to conclude on April 11. The current Assembly strength includes NC with 42 MLAs, BJP with 29, Congress with six, PDP with three, CPI(M) and AAP with one each, PC with one, and AIP with one. Among six Independents elected, five have since joined the NC.