SRINAGAR: A stormy start marked the resumption of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s budget session on Monday, as fiery protests over the Waqf Amendment legislation led to the first adjournment of the session.
The House was forced into a 15-minute recess after Speaker A.R. Rather declined an adjournment plea filed by nine legislators demanding urgent debate on the contentious bill.
Tensions flared the moment the Assembly convened for the day. Lawmakers from the National Conference (NC), Congress, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and a few Independents joined hands with those who had submitted the motion, urging that all other business be halted to allow immediate deliberation on the Waqf Bill. BJP representatives responded assertively, opposing the demand and triggering a verbal clash across the aisle.
ALSO READ: Kiren Rijiju: Waqf Reforms to Aid Marginalised Muslims Soon
Citing procedural protocols, Speaker Rather rejected the motions under Rules 56 and 58 of the Assembly’s conduct code. He pointed out that as per sub-rule 7 of Rule 58, topics that are currently under judicial consideration cannot be taken up for discussion within the House.
PDP legislator Waheed Para contested the ruling, arguing that the same issue had been debated in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. However, Speaker Rather countered by stating that the matter had not been legally sensitive at that time in Tamil Nadu, and thus the comparison did not apply in this instance.
Tempers soared as NC, Congress, PDP, and Independent members stormed into the Well of the House, raising slogans like “Waqf Bill Namanzoor” in loud protest. With the uproar refusing to settle, the Speaker adjourned the session for 15 minutes.
When the Assembly reconvened, tensions remained high and the scene remained equally chaotic, signaling further friction ahead in the budget session proceedings.
