Kashmiri government draws flak for not allowing debate on Waqf law amendment

By Nusrat Sidiq

SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir (AA) - Kashmiri leader and chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Monday criticized the local government for not allowing debate on the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, which was passed by India's parliament last week, in the region's assembly.

He termed the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly “ridiculous and condemnable.”

Waqf refers to land or property endowed by a Muslim for religious, educational, or charitable purposes. The change in law would add non-Muslims to boards that manage Muslim land endowments and give the government a larger role in validating their land holdings.

He said if a South Indian state such as Tamil Nadu, which only has 6% Muslim population, can pass a resolution against the amendment, why the speaker in Kashmir, a Muslim majority region, was struggling and refusing to do so. He questioned why the speaker was "hiding behind technicalities" to discuss the issue, which is "deeply concerning" for Muslims of the disputed region.

Mirwaiz said a huge mandate was given to the National Conference party in last year's assembly elections for safeguarding the interests of the people.

“The speaker would know that the strong 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?” he asked.

Abdul Rahim Rather, the speaker of the assembly and member of the National Conference party, rejected the motion, saying the matter was in court.

“I cannot allow adjournment in the house as the matter is sub judice,” he said. The session was later adjourned for the day after the opposition leaders protested over the issue.

Opposition leader and lawmaker Waheed Para said Jammu and Kashmir was the only majority Muslim state in India where its own assembly refused to stand against the Waqf Act.

The Waqf bill was passed by the parliament last week, with opposition leaders calling it a "black law" to be challenged in court of law.

Former chief minister of the region, Mehbooba Mufti, said it was disappointing that the speaker of assembly rejected the motion.

“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,” Mufti wrote on X.

She said the local elected government could learn from Tamil Nadu’s government, which has firmly opposed the amendment.

“In Jammu and Kashmir, the only Muslim-majority region, it’s alarming that a supposedly people-centric government lacks the courage even to debate this critical issue,” she said.

Opposition parties in India have also condemned and termed it as an “unconstitutional” amendment of laws governing Muslim religious endowments, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) described the move as a “historic reform.”

India's Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider the listing for hearing the petitions challenging the amendment.

*Ahmad Adil contributed from New Delhi