Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Apr 15: Chief Spokesperson of the National Conference and MLA Zadibal, Tanvir Sadiq, today accused the PDP of being part of a “plan to marginalize” Muslims, stating that it was Mufti Muhammad Sayeed who converted the Aquaf into the Waqf Board.
Speaking to reporters here, Tanvir said the PDP inflicted two major damages on J&K-first in 2003, when the Aquaf was turned into the Waqf Board, and again in 2014, when the party joined hands with the BJP to form the Government.
“In 2003, the late Mufti Mohd Sayeed converted the Aquaf into the Waqf Board, and Nayeem Akhtar was made the Vice Chairman. It started then. I believe it was an old plan, with the PDP and Mufti being part of it, to marginalize Muslims,” he said, adding that the destruction began when control was handed over to the Government.
He said that if the PDP hadn’t “traded off” J&K for power, “we wouldn’t be suffering today.” “Even now, they haven’t mended their ways, and they’ve been reduced to just three members.”
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He questioned why only Muslims were being targeted under the garb of reforms using the Waqf Amendment Act, stating that the National Conference is hopeful the Supreme Court will deliver a verdict in favour of the Muslim community.
“Why only Muslims, and not others? Eight lakh acres are under Hindu temple properties, and nobody talks about that. This is a secular country,” he said.
He further added, “Now a DC can decide whether a property belongs to the Government, just because there are no papers. This is direct interference. The Government has no right to snatch that from us.”
Commenting on the BJP’s criticism of the Government, Tanvir said the party has failed as an opposition and has destroyed J&K over the past 10 years.
He said that the NC-led Government will fulfill its promises during its tenure.
“Everyone spoke about the JJM scam in the Assembly, and when a House Committee was formed to probe, they (BJP) opposed it. That shows the contrast between their words and actions.”
On the adjournment motion on the Waqf Amendment Act not being accepted by the Assembly, Tanvir said a strong message was sent-that J&K stood in opposition, and the Assembly remained halted for three days.
“It was a larger message. Even the Speaker acknowledged that he knew the sense of the House. The record in the annals of history will show that we raised this issue. Now, the fight is ahead-and it will be fought in the Supreme Court.”
On the situation in J&K, the NC spokesperson questioned the restrictions on religious practices. “If the situation is ‘organic’, then what is the need to bar people from offering prayers on Shab-e-Qadr and Eid at Jamia Masjid and Eidgah?”
“If everything is fine, what is the issue with offering Namaz? We want the situation to return to normalcy, but that can only happen by involving the elected Government,” he said.
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