Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 2: Political parties, including the ruling National Conference, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the People’s Conference, today strongly opposed the proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was tabled in the Lok Sabha today by Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju.
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As discussions on the bill took place in Parliament, political parties in Jammu and Kashmir voiced their opposition in unison. The National Conference vowed to resist the bill, while the PDP called it an attempt to “disempower Muslims.”
Referring to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s remarks on Tuesday, in which he said the bill unfairly targets one religious community, Minister for Social Welfare and Education Sakeena Itoo affirmed that her party’s members in Parliament would strongly oppose the amendments. “The party will continue to oppose it,” she said.
Former Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti described the bill as a deliberate effort to weaken the Muslim community. “This is Gandhi’s country, and it should be Governed by the Constitution, not the BJP’s agenda,” she said.
Mufti urged people to stand against the bill, warning that India could face disintegration if such policies continue. “If the people of this country want to prevent India from becoming another Myanmar or avoid a repetition of what happened to Kashmiri Pandits-for which we are still taunted today-they must raise their voices. If they remain silent, no one can stop this country from falling apart,” she said.
She added that she had no expectations from the BJP, accusing the party of enabling mob lynchings, demolishing mosques, and seizing Muslim graveyards. “The Hindus of this country have to come forward,” she said.
Peoples Conference president and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone also condemned the amendments, calling them an attack on the religious rights of Muslims. “Waqf, by definition, is the custodian of properties collectively owned by Muslims. It is an Islamic concept,” Lone said.
He accused Parliament of interfering in Muslim religious affairs. “This amendment is a blatant attempt to strip rightful custodians of their authority,” he added, describing it as “yet another right-wing trespass” aimed at undermining Muslim institutions.
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