Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar, (DD): PDP President Mehbooba Mufti today accused the National Conference (NC) of enacting “political drama” inside the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to deflect attention from key public issues and simultaneously legitimizing the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Mehbooba said the disruptions by NC lawmakers over the past three days were not about protecting Waqf land but about diverting attention from the regularisation of daily wagers and the anti-liquor bill—both of which had been cleared by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
She alleged that NC’s public posturing against the Waqf Bill was hypocritical. “On one hand, they are protesting inside the House, and on the other, Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah are seen welcoming Union Minister Kiren Rijiju at the Tulip Garden. That act itself gave moral and political legitimacy to the very bill they now oppose,” she said.
Calling out the NC leadership, Mehbooba said their actions speak louder than words. “You cannot mislead people by creating chaos in the Assembly while cooperating with the same government outside it,” she added.
The Waqf Amendment Bill, which has been at the center of heated political debate in recent days, was opposed by NC lawmakers for allegedly diluting Muslim control over religious endowments. However, Mehbooba claimed that NC’s real intent was to create a smokescreen to avoid debate on legislation that directly benefits the people.
“This was never about the Waqf Board. It was about protecting vested interests while burying issues that matter to the common people—like job security and social reforms,” she said.
The Assembly was adjourned sine die earlier in the day after three consecutive days of uproar and protests(DD)
