Srinagar, Apr 04 (KNO): Peoples Conference and Peoples Democratic Party on Friday criticized the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for "ignoring" core issues.
Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC) President and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone castigated National Conference (NC) for its “failure” to oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, which was passed by the Parliament earlier this week.
In a post on X, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Lone questioned NC’s performance in Parliament, calling it "lacklustre" and "apologetically servile." He argued that lawmakers from Jammu and Kashmir, the only Muslim-majority region in India, should have taken a stronger stand against the bill.
"The parliamentarians from J&K should have roared like a lion, not meowed like a cat," he wrote.
Lone assured his party’s unconditional support for any Waqf-related bill brought in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, where the NC is the ruling party.
"If the National Conference has any such intentions, we will support it," he added.
Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and MLA Pulwama, Waheed-ur-Rehman Para in a post on X, said that the ruling NC was focusing on powers to transfer officers instead of resisting the changes enforced post August 2019.
“A party in Jammu and Kashmir that once appointed its own Sadr-e-Riyasat (Head of State) and Prime Minister is now fighting over tehsildar appointments, not rights. Goalposts aren’t just shifting, they’ve hit rock bottom. Fifty MLAs unite, not for resisting August 5, but for KAS transfers. Focus on symptoms only, not on August 5?” Parra wrote in a post.
The Pulwama MLA accused the National Conference of surrendering and normalising the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
“You started by surrendering and normalising August 5, expecting them to facilitate you because you facilitated them. If only you had taken a stand, appointed your own Advocate General, nominated five MLAs, and never compromised on (Article) 370 resolution (for restoration of statehood), transfers would have been on your platter,” Parra said.
“You refused to stand for July 13 (the Martyr’s Day holiday, which was scrapped in 2019), and the Waqf Bill was just empty rhetoric. Now, the same cabinet that justified the same bureaucrats in a month-long assembly session is complaining about them?” he said—(KNO)