Uproar in J&K Assembly Over Waqf Law: AAP, BJP MLAs Clash; House Adjourned Amid Chaos
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed high drama and unruly scenes on Wednesday as a heated confrontation broke out between legislators of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the Waqf law. The altercation escalated to a physical scuffle, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for three hours.
The chaos unfolded after members of the National Conference (NC) demanded a formal discussion on the recently enacted Waqf Act. NC MLAs stormed the well of the House, shouting slogans and urging the Speaker to allow a debate. However, BJP members opposed the demand, stating they would not permit any discussion on the matter.
Tensions spilt beyond the Assembly floor, with BJP and AAP MLAs engaging in a verbal and physical clash near the entrance of the House. Eyewitnesses reported pushing and shoving, with security personnel stepping in to defuse the situation.
BJP MLAs later accused AAP leaders of making controversial remarks within the House. “The AAP MLA made derogatory statements about Hindus, and this cannot be tolerated in a democracy,” said BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa. He alleged that one AAP member had said, “Hindus apply tilak, drink alcohol, and steal,” which he termed deeply offensive and inflammatory.
AAP MLA Matraj Mall, however, denied the allegations and claimed he was targeted by BJP members. “They were provoking us outside the House. I was attacked for speaking the truth,” he told reporters.
Outside the Assembly, supporters of various parties also clashed, particularly over remarks concerning former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Tensions were heightened as PDP workers, present in the public gallery, engaged in heated arguments with AAP legislators.
The Waqf law, which was recently passed by Parliament and signed into law by the President, has become a flashpoint in Jammu and Kashmir politics. Despite being implemented across the country, opposition parties in the region have voiced concerns over its provisions and demanded a discussion in the Assembly.
For the past three days, the legislative proceedings in the Union Territory have remained disrupted over the issue. Earlier this week, PDP members walked out of the House after the Speaker rejected their plea to hold a debate on the law. The political confrontation has now escalated into direct physical altercations and accusations of communal slurs.
Political analysts warn that unless tensions are defused, the confrontations could intensify and derail key legislative business in the newly formed Assembly. Senior officials have called for restraint and urged leaders across party lines to maintain decorum and uphold democratic principles.
