Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu, (DD): The political temperature in Jammu and Kashmir soared on Wednesday as Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma launched a scathing attack on the National Conference (NC), accusing it of shielding individuals—allegedly party workers and relatives—who have encroached upon Waqf land in the Kashmir Valley.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Sharma said the NC’s persistent protests against the Waqf Amendment Bill were not motivated by concern for the sanctity or governance of Waqf properties. Instead, he alleged, the party is “desperately trying to protect its own” who are involved in illegal occupation of Waqf land. He termed the situation a “Land Jihad,” and went a step further by calling NC’s resistance to the bill a “Legislative Jihad,” suggesting that the party is using legislative tools to shield encroachments under the guise of political opposition.
“This is not about the bill. This is about protecting vote banks and personal interests. The encroachers are not unknown—they are known to the NC leadership. That’s why they are trying to stall this reform,” Sharma claimed.
The Assembly has been rocked by continuous disruptions for the third straight day, with NC legislators staging protests inside the House, demanding a detailed discussion on the bill. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, however, refused to entertain the demand, citing that the issue is sub-judice and cannot be deliberated upon in the legislature.
The Waqf Amendment Bill, which seeks to streamline the management and protection of Waqf properties, has become a political flashpoint in the ongoing session. While the government maintains that the bill is aimed at improving transparency and curbing illegal encroachments, opposition parties, especially the NC, have raised concerns about the intent and possible misuse of the provisions.
As the stalemate continues, the bill has sparked a larger debate on land rights, religious endowments, and political patronage in Jammu and Kashmir—issues that are expected to dominate the political discourse in the days to come(DD)
