For the third consecutive day, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly remained paralyzed over uproar surrounding demands by non-BJP parties for a discussion on the new Waqf (Amendment) Act, eventually forcing Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to adjourn the House sine die on Wednesday, marking a chaotic end to the 21-day budget session.
Speaker Rather, addressing the House amid continuing protests, defended his decision to disallow an adjournment motion by National Conference (NC) members and their alliance partners on the Waqf issue. He also rejected a no-confidence motion moved against him by three opposition legislators, including Peoples Conference leader Sajad Gani Lone, citing procedural and technical grounds.
For the first time in three days, the Speaker managed to speak for over 15 minutes uninterrupted, emphasising the members' overall contributions during the budget session and highlighting his adherence to legislative rules.
However, protests erupted once again as the session began Wednesday morning, with NC legislators demanding a discussion on the Waqf Act, while BJP members stormed the Well of the House to raise issues like unemployment. The Speaker initially adjourned the House until 1 pm, but when it reconvened, the situation quickly devolved again.
AAP MLA Mehraj Malik attempted to raise concerns but was unable to speak amid the commotion, just hours after he had reportedly been involved in a clash with BJP legislators and some PDP workers outside the Assembly during the break.
The last two days had seen full-day adjournments, triggered by the Speaker’s consistent refusal to allow discussion on the Waqf matter, citing it as sub judice. On Wednesday, the NC continued to press for suspension of business to debate the amendment, while BJP MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia also submitted an adjournment motion seeking to discuss unemployment.
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The Speaker rejected this too, arguing that unemployment was not a recent issue, and proceeded with the scheduled business, asking BJP member Sunil Bhardwaj to pose his question despite the loud protests.
Amid the ruckus, NC MLA Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi urged the Speaker to exercise his discretionary powers and allow at least a 30-minute debate to restore order. He criticised the Waqf Amendment Act, calling it an injustice to Muslims, and accused the BJP of exploiting Hindu-Muslim politics.
Gurezi further charged the BJP with undermining the region's interests, particularly regarding land and employment rights, and demanded that they disclose how many jobs they had created during their time in power.
The tensions escalated as BJP MLAs led by Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma once again entered the Well of the House, joining in slogan-shouting alongside opposition lawmakers. Some members even staged a sit-in protest, further disrupting proceedings.
Despite efforts to reach a consensus, including a morning meeting among NC and alliance legislators—the second in less than 24 hours—the House remained in a deadlock. With no resolution in sight, the Speaker finally adjourned the Assembly sine die, bringing the budget session to an abrupt and turbulent close.
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