JAMMU — The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was adjourned for 15 minutes by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Monday following a ruckus over his refusal to adjourn the question hour to discuss the Waqf (Amendment) Act. This is the first time the house has been adjourned during the Budget session. As the house assembled for […]
NEW DELHI — Parliament early Friday approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after the Rajya Sabha gave its nod to the contentious legislation following an over 13-hour debate. The discussion witnessed staunch objections from opposition parties, which termed the Bill “anti-Muslim” and “unconstitutional” with the government responding that the “historic reform” would benefit the minority […]
SRINAGAR — Speaker of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Abdul Rahim Rather on Thursday said the Waqf Amendment Bill is violative of the Constitution’s freedom of religion and an “unnecessary interference” in religious matters of Muslims. “You saw more than 200 MPs opposed the Bill in the Lok Sabha because this Bill is a violation of […]
NEW DELHI — The Lok Sabha early Thursday passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after over a 12-hour debate, which saw the ruling NDA strongly defending the legislation as beneficial for minorities, while the opposition describing it as “anti-Muslim”. The Bill was passed after all amendments moved by the opposition members were rejected by […]
SRINAGAR — Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is also the chief priest of Jammu and Kashmir, expressed disappointment on Wednesday that the Joint Parliamentary Committee tasked with looking into the Waqf (Amendment) Bill had not addressed even one concern of the Muslim scholars from the Union Territory. “As one watches the ruling party […]
SRINAGAR — Political parties in Kashmir on Wednesday opposed the amendments made to the Waqf Act saying it was an interference in religious matters and an attempt to disempower Muslims. Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday tabled the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to improve the functioning […]
NEW DELHI — As the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government tabled the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Parliament on Wednesday, Muslim bodies denounced it and said the amended provisions in it will do more harm than good to Muslims. It will be detrimental rather than beneficial for Muslims, a senior All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) […]
HYDERABAD — Coming down heavily on the NDA government in the Centre over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday alleged that the bill should be called a ‘looters (amendment) law’ as the BJP-led regime wants to take away waqf properties. Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s reported remarks that one […]
JAMMU — Several Muslim organisations in Jammu’s Rajouri district on Monday (March 24, 2025) criticised Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi for supporting the Waqf Amendment Bill. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah too questioned the Bill and its “hidden motives”. Five religious bodies, which included the Islamic Welfare Organisation, Tehreek Ulema Ahle Sunnat, […]
JAMMU — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill across the country are understandable as only a particular religion is being “targeted”. “Charitable activities are linked to all religions and Muslims carry out these through Waqf. When a particular religion is targeted, there will be […]