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Srinagar: The introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (April 2) triggered an uproar in Kashmir, with major political parties, including the ruling National Conference (NC), terming it a move to disenfranchise Muslims in the country.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah termed the Bill an attempt to target “one religion”, while asserting that it would not be acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Every religion has a charitable wing. When we have to make charitable donations, we do it through the waqf board. Targeting this institution is a regrettable decision. It seems only our institution of charity is being targeted. Now it is up to parliament, and our members will oppose the Bill,” Abdullah told reporters.

The ruling NC has two parliamentarians in the Lok Sabha – Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, who won from central Kashmir’s Srinagar-Budgam constituency, and Mian Altaf Larvi, who secured the delimited Anantnag-Rajouri seat in the 2024 general election.

Moderate Hurriyat chairman and Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that the concerns raised by Muslim organisations before the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill earlier this year have not been........

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