Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday strongly criticised the Waqf Board’s move to introduce uniform Friday sermons in mosques, describing it as an unacceptable attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to interfere in the religious affairs of Muslims.
Reacting to reports that the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board was pushing for uniform Friday sermons across mosques in the Union Territory, Abdullah said such interference would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
“This is an unacceptable attempt by the BJP to interfere in the religious affairs of Muslims and will not be accepted under any circumstances,” Abdullah said in a post on X.
The Chief Minister also targeted Waqf Board Chairperson Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, demanding that she immediately withdraw the move.
“The BJP appointed Chairperson must immediately halt this misplaced attempt to please her masters,” he said.
His remarks came amid growing opposition to the Waqf Board’s proposal to constitute a committee of Muftis, Imams and Khateebs to identify and finalise common topics for Friday sermons.
The proposal has drawn criticism from religious organisations and political leaders, who have questioned the Board’s authority to influence religious discourse and determine the subjects to be addressed from mosque pulpits.
The Waqf Board has described the initiative as an effort to promote religious awareness, moral values, social harmony and unity through greater coordination among religious institutions.
