LA paralysed again over Waqf amendment row
Jammu, Apr 8: Dramatic elements unfolded in the J&K Legislative Assembly on Tuesday as the Ministers joined all the agitating members (except BJP), stridently asking the Speaker to “revisit his ruling disallowing adjournment motions and use discretionary powers to allow discussion” on the Waqf Amendment Act.
The Deputy Chief Minister and the Minister for Agriculture even contested the Speaker’s stand that the matter was sub-judice and hence could not be discussed.
Day, in any case, was a repeat of the April 7 spectacle of “total washout of proceedings”, however, with some additional intriguing turns and twists, including marshalling out of PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para on the issue.
The House, which witnessed three adjournments, could not transact any business, consecutively for the second day amid hubbub over the Waqf Amendment Act.
Speaker’s words quoting rules to affirm that the issue was not “primarily concern of the government hence could not be allowed to discuss in the House” sounded music to BJP MLAs, who too were up on their feet, raising slogans “No scope, No scope” (for discussion).
However, the Ministers asserted that it (matter) was “concern of the Government” and he (Speaker) should not allow BJP to “dictate terms to him to run the proceedings.”
Vociferously agitating NC members tearing and tossing papers found themselves in a bind as the opposition members accused them of resorting to “dramabaazi” with a “clear dichotomy in their acts.”
Former Speaker and chief whip NC, Mubarak Gul, former Deputy Speaker Nazir Gurezi and former minister Mir Saifullah too asked the Chair to use his discretionary powers and allow discussion while respecting the “sense of the House.”
Gurezi, however, reiterated that the issue was not sub-judice. However, all of them failed to convince the Speaker, who stuck to his ruling to disallow the discussion.
The most interesting aspect of the developments unfolding during the day in the House, which witnessed brief “action”, verbal duels amid absolute chaos, was the BJP bloc gleefully watching proceedings and welcoming the ruling of Speaker with thumping of desks every time, much to the irritation of treasury benches.
Later in the evening, the NC chief whip chaired the Legislature Party meeting, in the absence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was in Srinagar, to deliberate on the issue and break the stalemate.
Party sources stated that the majority of party MLAs attended the meeting besides cabinet ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister.
“During the meeting, deliberations took place on different issues. The members also shared their viewpoints on the issue of the Waqf Amendment Act, which related to the sentiments of the people. Members hoped to find a middle path to allow discussion and end stalemate in the House. It was decided to meet again in the assembly hall at 9 am tomorrow before the commencement of the session.”
Earlier, during the day, chaos reigned supreme yet again over the Waqf Amendment Act in the House as it assembled for the day’s proceedings, NC MLAs including Tanvir Sadiq, Salman Sagar, Peoples’ Conference’s Sajad Lone rose to demand the discussion as fresh adjournment motions were submitted. PDP members led by Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, independent Shabir Ahmad Kullay besides others too joined the cause.
As the Speaker reiterated that he had disallowed their motions citing rules, the agitating members proceeded towards the well amid slogans yet stopped by marshals near the reporters’ table.
In the melee, protesting Para, with a copy of a fresh resolution moved by his party seeking repeal of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, entered the well demanding passage of the same. NC’s Abdul Majid Larmi and his other party colleagues entered into a verbal duel with Para. They called Para a “BJP-RSS agent”.
Sajad Lone, AIP MLA Sheikh Khursheed and PDP MLAs in support of Para too joined the cause. They (Lone in particular) aimed barbs referring to “Tulip Garden” bonhomie. Reference was to the Chief Minister's Tulip Garden picture with the Union Minister Kirlen Rijiju. They dubbed NC as a “BJP agent.”
Lone asked NC members to bring a no-confidence motion against the Speaker.
In the meanwhile, Para was marshalled out after he got engaged in a heated argument with the Speaker while pressing for passage of his resolution to convey the sentiments of only Muslim majority State in the country. The Speaker said, “You cannot undo what the Parliament has done.”
Before it, the Speaker stated that 25 MLAs, the majority of whom were NC members, had moved fresh adjournment motions seeking discussion on the Waqf Amendment Act. The Chair mentioned that he had already disallowed the notices on account of the matter being sub judice.
NC's Nazir Gurezi also argued with the Speaker stating that the matter was neither sub-judice nor any petition was filed. “Why have you disallowed notices and why are you not allowing discussion?” he asked.
BJP's Pawan Gupta and Rajiv Jasrotia briefly held a dharna in the well demanding resumption of Question Hour.
As the ruckus persisted, the Speaker adjourned the House for half an hour at 10.20 am. This was the first adjournment of the day.
As soon as the House reassembled at 11:15 am after the first adjournment, disorder was back. The point this time was that even the Ministers in unison said that the matter was a concern of the government and discussion should be allowed.
Members from both sides were up on their feet while many were standing on the desks.
Amid the din, National Conference's Nazir Gurezi, addressing the Chair, reiterated, “You are saying that the matter is sub-judice. But no notice has been issued. It has not been enlisted even. Why are you not allowing discussion?”
BJP members objected to his contention regarding the discussion.
Speaker A R Rather responded to Gurezi, saying, “As regards sub-judice matter, I stand by my words on it.”
BJP members welcomed the Speaker's statement with thumping of desks.
Quoting sub-rule 9 of Rule 58, which deals with the restrictions about adjournment motion, Rather further said, “Motion shall not relate to a matter which primarily is not the concern of the government.”
This further irked protesting NC, PDP, Congress and independent members. Not only this, but even this time, all ministers were up on their feet.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary said, “Sir, this is the concern of members. If they want to discuss it, allow them. You are the custodian of the House. You take your call. Your direction shall prevail and not that of the BJP.”
Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakina Itoo said, "Speaker Sir, this is the concern of the government.”
DyCM too endorsed her point, saying, “This is an elected government. We represent people and their will. The matter relates to people’s religious sentiments. If Members want discussion, please allow it. This issue is being discussed across the country.”
Their statements were objected to by the BJP members.
BJP MLA Sham Sharma retorted, "Speaker Sir, if they don't have faith in you. They should move no confidence motion against you. They cannot dictate terms to you. House will not run this way.”
NC Members started raising slogans “Waqf Bill Wapis Lo” while BJP members countered it with “Chor Chor Mausere Bhai.”
As Sham Sharma and the DyCM started speaking simultaneously, they were not properly heard. Many protesting members were up on the desks and even tried to perch atop the reporters' table.
Members from the treasury benches were seen tearing papers and flinging them across the House. Meanwhile, the Minister for Agriculture Javed Ahmad Dar too joined his Ministerial colleagues saying that the government wanted discussion.
“If the House conscientiously wants it (discussion), it should happen,” he said. Dar and the DyCM too reiterated that the matter was not sub-judice.
As pandemonium continued to prevail, the Speaker at 11.21 am adjourned the House - the second time during the day, till 1 pm.
When the House reassembled at 1:06 pm, the scenario was no more different. This time, NC chief whip Mubarak Gul insisted that the debate should happen. “This is a genuine issue, related to our religion. Across the country, protests are being held. People have apprehensions. Please revisit your ruling and use your discretion.”
BJP’s Chander Prakash Ganga and his other party colleagues objected to his contention and asked him to move to court.
BJP MLA and former minister Sham Sharma stated, “When the Speaker has given a ruling, there was no scope for discussion. He (Speaker) cannot revisit his ruling. If NC members don’t have faith in him, they should bring a no-confidence motion against the Speaker.”
Gurezi countered, “You are nobody to dictate terms to the Chair. We request the Chair to re-examine his ruling and allow the discussion.”
Congress’ Nizam-ud-Din Bhat also echoed similar sentiments. Quoting rule, he said that the Speaker could use his discretionary powers, overriding rules.
The speaker asked Gul and Gurezi to quote rules whereby he could allow discussion or re-examine his ruling.
To Bhat’s point, Rather said that it could be done only when the Rules were not clear. “Here rules are clear and
NC’s Mir Saifullah stated that the matter was not sub-judice as the court had not taken cognizance and no notice was issued. Ruckus as usual persisted amid sloganeering.
Sajad Lone, in a lighter vein, suggested the Speaker retire for 5 minutes.
“Let Gul Sahib take the Chair, it (discussion) will happen,” he said.
In the persisting din, the Speaker said, “I’ve given a ruling and I’m not going to change it.”
As hullabaloo continued, the Chair adjourned the House for the day at 1:27 pm – the third and final adjournment.
