Ruckus over Waqf Act goes on, J&K House adjourned

No business taken up for second straight day; PDP MLA Parra marshalled out

- Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

JAMMU: For the second day in a row, pandemonium gripped the Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Tuesday over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, forcing speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to adjourn the House multiple times before ultimately calling off proceedings for the day. The disruption, led by National Conference (NC) legislators, saw vociferous protests, heated verbal duels and even physical interventions by marshals, leaving legislative business in limbo for the second consecutive day.

Early on Tuesday, the speaker first adjourned the House at 10.30 am for 30 minutes and then again at 11.21 am until 1 pm. However, when the House reassembled at 1 pm, NC members remained steadfast in their demand for a debate and rollback of the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

The speaker denied the discussion, stating that the matter was sub-judice before the Supreme Court. "I stand by my words. If the adjournment motion doesn't relate to an issue concerning the government, it should not be discussed," he said citing sub-rule 9 of rule 58 of the conduct of business rules.