The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed high drama on Monday as Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather was forced to adjourn the House twice following a major uproar led by legislators from the ruling National Conference (NC), who demanded a discussion on the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The protest erupted soon after the House reconvened following a 12-day break. NC legislators rose from their seats, shouting slogans and insisting that the Waqf Bill, which was passed by the Parliament, be taken up for discussion in the Assembly.
The Speaker, however, maintained that the matter could not be deliberated upon as it was sub judice, having been challenged in the Supreme Court.
The protesting legislators, refusing to accept the Speaker’s explanation, argued that if the Goods and Services Tax (GST) law introduced by the Centre could be discussed in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, there was no reason why the Waqf Bill—especially in a Muslim-majority region—should be excluded from debate.
Speaker Rather invoked sub-rule (7) of Rule 58 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the House to justify his decision, subsequently disallowing the adjournment motion moved by the NC legislators, including Sheikh Khursheed.
Despite the Speaker’s ruling, NC members stormed into the well of the House, waving black badges in protest and chanting slogans such as “Waqf Bill Na Manzoor,” “Kala Kanoon Wapis Lo,” and “BJP hai-hai.”
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The commotion forced the Speaker to adjourn the proceedings for 15 minutes. When the session resumed, the disruptions continued unabated.
Marshals had to physically restrain NC MLAs from approaching the Speaker’s podium. In retaliation, BJP legislators countered with slogans like “NC-Congress hai-hai” and “Desh vidrohi agenda nahi chalega,” intensifying the chaotic atmosphere.
NC legislator Nazir Gurezi defended the protests, stating that they were only demanding a legitimate discussion on a bill that they viewed as a direct attack on their religious rights.
As the verbal exchanges escalated between members of the ruling and opposition parties, the Speaker adjourned the House once again, this time for 20 minutes. The standoff has drawn criticism from across party lines, with opposition members accusing the NC-led government of aligning too closely with the BJP.
The criticism gained further traction after photographs surfaced showing Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah walking together in Srinagar’s iconic Tulip Garden earlier in the day.
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