"Attack on secularism, federalism...": Congress MLA Irfan Hafeez Lone on Waqf Amendment Act

Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], April 7 (ANI): congress-mla">Congress MLA Irfan Hafeez Lone on Monday said that the party is against the Waqf Amendment Act, adding that this Act is an attack on secularism and federalism.
"We want to tell the nation that we are against this Act. This is an attack on secularism and federalism. This way (with black cloth), we are registering our protest. We will continue to show our protest," Lone told ANI.
He also accused the Centre of "brazenly violating" the rule of law, federalism, and secularism over the issue of the Waqf Amendment Act, adding that the said act is a violation of the Constitution, democracy, and the rule of law.
"It is a violation of the Constitution, democracy, and rule of law... Numbers do not matter in a democracy. They should have taken us in their confidence and respected our emotions... You are brazenly violating rule of law, federalism, and secularism. This is a matter of serious concern. We will agitate for India to be free of such an ideology... Our party is protesting against it, for J-K, and rights of people," Lone said.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly descended into chaos after members of the National Conference and its allies protested against the enactment of the Waqf Amendment Bill. They also protested Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather's decision to reject their adjournment motion on the Waqf Amendment Act.
As the session began, opposition MLAs rose to demand a discussion on the recent amendments made to the Waqf Act, voicing concerns over its implications. However, Speaker Rather maintained that the matter could not be taken up under an adjournment motion since it was currently sub judice.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather said, "As per rules, no matter what sub-judice is, it can be brought up for adjournment. Since this issue is in the Supreme Court and I have got a copy of it, the rule clearly says that we cannot discuss through an adjournment motion."NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq moved the adjournment motion. Soon after, NC MLAs began approaching the well but were stopped by Marshalls. NC MLAs then raised slogans, "Ban karo ban karo Waqf bill ko ban karo."The PDP, which is not in alliance with the NC, also joined the protests and accused the National Conference of indulging in a fixed match.
On April 5, President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which Parliament passed during the budget session.
The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on April 4 with 128 votes in favour and 95 against, while the Lok Sabha cleared the bill after a lengthy debate, with 288 members voting in favour and 232 opposing it.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to focus on improving the management of waqf properties, empowering relevant stakeholders to this, improving the efficiency of survey, registration, and case disposal processes, and developing waqf properties. (ANI)