File photo of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The ruling National Conference (NC) as well as the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday (April 9, 2025) said they will approach the Supreme Court (SC) to oppose the Waqf Amendment Act. Meanwhile, the authorities denied permission to hold Muslim bodies’ meeting over the Act, which was scheduled to be chaired by chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
“The NC, on the direction of party president Farooq Abdullah, will file a writ petition in the SC. This Act is an alarming interference in the religious affairs of the Muslim community. The Act violates fundamental constitutional protections under Articles 14, 15, 21, 25, 26, 29, and 300A, and it is a direct attack on the religious freedom, equality, and property rights of Muslims across the country,” NC leader and legislator Tanvir Sadiq said.
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Backing the party’s move, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said a major section of the nation was upset with the Bill. “It’s a conscious decision to move the SC. Not just the people of J&K but voices of concern are growing across India. It’s is a widespread feeling that the government is interfering in religious matters, particularly those of the Muslim community,” Mr. Abdullah said.
The Chief Minister described the protests of MLAs inside the J&K Assembly as “a reflection of public sentiment”. “Will you allow Muslims to manage the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine? Will you accept a non-Sikh meddling into the affairs of the Shri Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee? If not, then how can it be justified to have non-Muslims dictate the functioning of Waqf institutions?” he added.
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Extending support to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), former J&K president and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said, “The PDP will move the Supreme Court against the Waqf Amendment Bill. We also extend our full support to the AIMPLB and other organisations opposing the Bill.” She said the Bharatiya Janata Party was attacking the Muslims left, right, and centre.
On the recent meeting of Mr. Abdullah with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju at Srinagar’s tulip garden, Ms. Mufti said, “The visuals of Rijiju’s visit, set against the backdrop of Asia’s largest tulip garden, were symbolic of growing disempowerment among Muslims. The CM’s public show of support lent legitimacy to a deeply controversial move that has triggered unease among Muslims,” she added.
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Meanwhile, the scheduled meeting of the Mutahida Majlis Ulema (MMU), an amalgam of over 20 religious organisations in J&K, was disallowed by the authorities. The meeting was to be chaired by Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq at his residence to discuss the Waqf Act.
“It [meeting] was not allowed to take place at my residence by the authorities. Religious representatives of J&K, including from Ladakh, Kargil, and Jammu had reached the valley to attend this meet today. It is strange that even a discussion to deliberate on this serious issue and respond peacefully by Muslim scholars and religious institutes in this Muslim majority region is barred,” Mr. Farooq said.
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The MMU said it decided that the joint resolution on this matter prepared in consultation with all members “will be read out in mosques and at all religious congregations coming Friday”.
The MMU also extends its full support to the AIMPLB and will stand by the Board in whatever course of action it deems appropriate to address the issues arising from the new law, Mr. Farooq added.
Published – April 09, 2025 09:43 pm IST