Budgam: National Conference Vice President and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said a technical error led to the mishandling of the Waqf Bill issue in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, while stressing that this is the right time to press for the restoration of statehood.
“The Speaker may have allowed the discussion on the Waqf Bill, but unfortunately our members committed a mistake by filing it as an adjournment motion,” Omar told reporters during the inauguration of a bridge connecting villages in Budgam and Pulwama districts.
“Adjournment motions are typically filed for matters relating to the working of the government. But the Waqf Bill was enacted by the Government of India in Parliament, so it should have been raised through a different procedural route,” he explained.
The Waqf Bill has recently stirred debate in the Union Territory, with regional political parties alleging attempts to centralize control over religious endowments. Omar said the concern is valid, but procedural correctness is necessary to ensure the issue is addressed effectively. Shifting focus to the larger political demand, Omar reiterated the call for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
“I believe this is the right time for the Government of India to fulfill its promise of restoring statehood. The people have waited long enough,” he said. The former Chief Minister was speaking after inaugurating a bridge that connects far-flung villages of Budgam and Pulwama, a project he said was initiated during his tenure. “This bridge was sanctioned in 2014. I’m happy to see it completed, and I hope it brings ease to the people here,” he said. (KNS)
