𝐒𝐚𝐣𝐚𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐎𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐛𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐪𝐟 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬, 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

Srinagar, April 15 – Handwara MLA and Peoples Conference President Sajad Lone has launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the handling of the Waqf Bill in the J&K Assembly, accusing the government of deliberate procedural missteps and suppressing opposition voices.

Lone’s criticism followed the Chief Minister’s recent admission in Pulwama that National Conference (NC) legislators had mistakenly moved an adjournment motion instead of a resolution concerning the controversial Waqf Bill. Lone pointed out that he had raised the same procedural flaw as early as April 7 through a social media post, but was met with verbal attacks from the ruling party.

Quoting his April 7 post on X, Lone reiterated that an adjournment motion is essentially a censure of the government and is not suitable for matters like the Waqf Bill. “You cannot move an adjournment motion on the Waqf Bill,” he had written, highlighting the inappropriateness of the move.

Calling the Assembly’s handling of the issue “criminal negligence,” Lone accused the ruling party of staging chaos to avoid passing a resolution. “Who ordered 50 legislators to shout for three days straight? Why was no business allowed to be conducted?” he questioned, expressing disbelief that experienced NC legislators were unaware of the error.

Lone mocked the apparent ignorance displayed by seasoned lawmakers, stating that if he could recognize the mistake as a second-term MLA, the NC—with its legal experts and veteran politicians—should have known better. He suggested that the disruption was orchestrated to silence the opposition and avoid an official resolution condemning the Waqf Bill.

He also took a swipe at the Chief Minister’s absence during the Assembly proceedings, mentioning Omar Abdullah’s visit to the Tulip Garden while the Assembly was in chaos.

Clarifying the proper procedure, Lone said the government could have moved a resolution without any notice period, as such motions require only cabinet approval and support from the leader of the House.

Labeling the episode a “monumental political loss,” Lone demanded an apology from the Chief Minister and called for an emergency one-day session to properly address the Waqf Bill with a formal resolution.