Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling National Conference (NC) on Friday said it has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the recent amendments to the Waqf Act.
The party first announced its decision to challenge the Act, which it termed a constitutionally “alarming interference” in the religious affairs of the Muslim community, on Wednesday.
The same day, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah defended protests by NC MLAs in the Legislative Assembly against the Act, saying the law had hurt the sentiments of the majority of the people in Jammu and Kashmir.
“On the directions of Party President Dr. Farooq Abdullah, and in the interest of the minorities of India, JKNC has challenged the Waqf Amendment Act in the Supreme Court. Our MLAs @arjunsinghraju, @AdvReyazkhan & Hilal Lone have filed a writ petition today seeking justice,” the NC said in a post on X on Friday.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed by Parliament on April 4 after marathon debates in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
The discussion witnessed staunch objections from opposition parties, which termed the Bill “anti-Muslim” and “unconstitutional” while the government said the “historic reform” would benefit the minority community.
President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Bill on April 5.
Several Muslim bodies and leaders of different opposition parties have challenged the constitutionality of the law in the Supreme Court, which is set to hear the case on April 16.
Jammu and Kashmir’s opposition parties like PDP, People’s Conference and Awami Ittehad Party have said it is a violation of freedom of religion as guaranteed by the Constitution.
NC slams LoP Sunil Sharma over his remarks on restoration of J&K’s statehood
The National Conference (NC) on Friday slammed Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Sunil Sharma over his remarks that statehood should be restored only after terrorism and separatism are completely uprooted from the Union Territory.
In a statement, NC’s state spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said Sharma’s remarks “directly contradict the promises” made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his election campaign visits to Srinagar and Jammu.
Dar expressed disappointment over the remarks, saying the LoP’s comments are a far cry from the “commitments” made by the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the people of J&K.
Referring to the “promises” made by Shah, the NC state spokesperson urged for swift restoration of statehood as pledged by the BJP’s central leadership.
He said that the “constant vague assurances” of statehood being restored without a specific timeline are getting old, and added it is time for action.
The NC leader expressed hope PM Modi will deliver on his promises and restore statehood to J&K.
“If there are any remaining roots of separatism or terrorism, we want them to be uprooted completely, and only then should statehood be restored,” LoP and BJP leader Sharma told reporters in Jammu on Thursday.
