As J&K Assembly witnesses chaos over Waqf Bill, Omar takes a walk with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju in Tulip garden

J&K Assembly erupts as treasury benches protest over Waqf Bill

The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed high-voltage drama on Monday after members sitting on the treasury benches converged near the well of the house to register their protest against the speaker for not allowing their adjournment motion on the Waqf Amendment Act.

Raising slogans in support of the discussion on the floor of the Assembly, the ruling party MLAs were seen tearing paper bills. One of the ruling party MLAs took off his jacket and tore it apart in protest in front of the speaker.

As the house descended into chaos and members disobeyed the speaker, the chair decided to adjourn the house.

Before giving the ruling, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather made efforts to restore order in the house, but in vain. The speaker said, “…I have seen the rules, and as per Rule 58, no matter which is sub-judice can be brought up for adjournment. Since this issue is in the Supreme Court and I have got a copy of it, the rule clearly says that we cannot discuss it through an adjournment motion.

JKNC MLA Tanvir Sadiq, who moved an adjournment motion in the house, said, “…This is a very emotional and sensitive issue for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a Muslim-majority state. We are not challenging the authority of the Parliament, but we want to express our sentiments. If we do not put our point in the Assembly, then where will we put it? …As per the law, we were asking for an adjournment motion, and we will stick to it until the Speaker accepts our motions and allows discussion on it…”

Interestingly, before the house assembled today in Jammu, after a long break, images of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accompanying Union Minister Kiren Rejiju were shared across various social media platforms. The leaders were seen enjoying a morning walk in the Tulip garden. Dr Farooq Abdullah was also seen greeting the Union Minister.

A refreshing morning walk amid the vibrant hues of the Tulip Garden in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, with Hon’ble CM Shri @OmarAbdullah ji and also glad to meet Dr Farooq Abdullah sahab.
Nature at its finest & conversations filled with warmth & vision, a truly special morning. pic.twitter.com/2c5S8ygVM3

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) April 7, 2025

PDP leader Iltija Mufti reacted sharply, saying What’s left to say when the Chief Minister of India’s only Muslim majority state gives a red carpet welcome to the BJP minister who introduced the Waqf bill meant to disempower & debilitate Muslims?

What’s left to say when the Chief Minister of India’s only Muslim majority state gives a red carpet welcome to the BJP minister who introduced the Waqf bill meant to disempower & debilitate Muslims? Stands in start contrast to Tamil Nadu CM who showed spine by swiftly introducing…

— Iltija Mufti (@IltijaMufti_) April 7, 2025

Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, also blamed the speaker for hiding behind technicalities to discuss this deeply concerning issue for the Muslims of the state

“It is ridiculous and condemnable that Tamil Nadu, which only has a 6% Muslim population, passes a strong anti Waqf resolution in it’s Assembly, while the Muslim majority J&K assembly speaker is struggling and refusing, by hiding behind technicalities, to discuss this deeply concerning issue for the Muslims of the state. The speaker would know that the strong peoples’ mandate given to his party was precisely for the reason that the party had promised to safeguard the interests of the people being trampled upon since August 2019 and take a stand for them in critical matters. Why is he capitulating so meekly?

It is ridiculous and condemnable that Tamil Nadu which only has 6% Muslim population, passes a strong anti Wakf resolution in it’s assembly,while the Muslim majority J&K assembly speaker is struggling and refusing , by hiding behind technicalities,to discuss this deeply…

— Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) April 7, 2025

Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said, “The Speaker should have made it clear in the very first second that this cannot be allowed—because how can a Bill that has already been passed by Parliament, signed by the President, and is now sub judice, be discussed in the Assembly of a Union Territory?…

PDP leader Waheed Para said, “When Article 370 and CAA were there in the court, we had brought a resolution, many states had brought it, and today we want to register our protest against the Waqf Bill, but unfortunately, the Speaker rejected the resolution. They are playing a fixed match. By not opposing this bill today, it has been shown that the Jammu and Kashmir government is compromising on the issues of Kashmir and Muslims.”Para added, this government is playing to galleries, doing politics, they want to appease the BJP, they are normalising everything. They are helping the BJP, they are facilitating.”

PDP Chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also reacted strongly to the developments inside the Assembly, saying the Omar Abdullah-led government appears to have completely yielded to the BJP’s anti-Muslim agenda, cynically attempting to appease both sides.

It’s profoundly disappointing that the speaker J&K Assembly has rejected the motion on the Waqf Bill. Despite securing a strong mandate, the government appears to have completely yielded to the BJP’s anti-Muslim agenda, cynically attempting to appease both sides. The National…

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) April 7, 2025

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