JAMMU — Congress MLAs on Thursday demanded immediate revocation of an order issued by the district administration in Kishtwar district regulating the collection of donations during Ramzan, raising the issue in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
The point of order was raised by Congress MLA Nizam Uddin Bhat during a discussion on grants of the chief minister’s departments. Bhat criticised the directive and said it should be revoked.
Seconding Bhat, Congress MLA Ghulam Ahmed Mir said the order must be condemned, asserting that it goes against religious practices. “It is against the basic way of life in our religion. We demand it to be revoked immediately,” Mir said.
Outside the Assembly, while interacting with reporters, PDP leader Waheed-Ur-Rehman Para and National Conference leader Javed Ahmed Beigh also sought revocation of the directive.
However, the move found support from BJP MLA Satesh Sharma, who said monitoring of donations was necessary.
The order, issued on Wednesday by Kishtwar District Magistrate Pankaj Kumar Sharma, regulates collection of donations during the Ramzan, citing concerns over unauthorised fundraising.
Explaining the decision, the district magistrate said it is the statutory obligation of the administration to ensure that public contributions meant for religious, welfare or relief purposes are not misappropriated, laundered or diverted for subversive activities.
He said there has been a growing tendency of unauthorised collection of donations by certain individuals and organisations during Ramzan, necessitating immediate regulatory intervention. — (PTI)