NC-led alliance passes resolutions against Waqf amendment bill, asserts authority of elected govt

Srinagar, April 04: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday chaired an emergency meeting of National Conference legislative party and the allies, in which resolutions were passed to condemn the Waqf amendment bill and the “encroachment” on the powers of the elected government.

“Two important resolutions were passed in the legislative party meeting chaired by Omar Abdullah,” said Tanvir Sadiq while addressing reporters after the meeting held at the residence of deputy chief minister at Gupkar.

“We have condemned the Waqf amendment bill. It is against the minorities. Everybody opposed it in one voice. In the second resolution passed today, we have said that anyone undermining the mandate of the elected government is disrespecting the people and their mandate,” he said.
Sadiq said that their coordination with the Lieutenant Governor and New Delhi should not be misread. “We are trying to maintain dignity in governance, but that should not be taken as a sign of political weakness or submission,” he asserted.

Congress leader Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, who also attended the meeting, told reporters that both long-term and short-term issues were discussed in detail. "Some senior leaders couldn’t attend, but I was mandated to represent the Congress alongside other leaders," he said.

"All MLAs in the government stand firmly behind the leader of the House. On sensitive matters like the Waqf Bill and public mandate, there is unanimous agreement that these issues must be resolved through dialogue with the Centre."

NC MLA Bashir Ahmad Veeri said nobody can infringe upon the rights of the elected government. “People of Jammu and Kashmir are as important as the people in the rest of the country. We will keep fighting for the rights of the people,” he said, adding that they discussed the recent decisions taken by the LG administration.

Notably, LG administration has ordered the transfers of 48 Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officers. The move has reignited the debate around the pending business rules meant to delineate administrative powers between the elected government and the LG’s office.