Srinagar, Apr 11 (UNI) The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday staged a protest in Srinagar against the Waqf Act, accusing the government of using it to marginalize Muslims.
The protest took place inside the PDP headquarters in the city centre and was led by senior party leaders including Khursheed Alam, Abdul Qayoom Bhat, Arif Laigroo, and Mohammad Iqbal Trumboo, among others.
The protesters were holding placards in their hands and were chanting slogans like ‘Waqf Bill not accepted , not not accepted’
Raising slogans against the Waqf Act, the PDP workers attempted to take out a protest march from the party office towards Lal Chowk. However, the police, deployed in large numbers in the area, did not allow them to move outside.
Speaking to reporters, Khursheed Alam termed the Waqf Act a “conspiracy” against Muslims, aimed at weakening their institutions.
He also criticized the ruling National Conference (NC) for its silence over the issue in the Assembly.
“The people gave a landslide mandate to the NC to fight the BJP’s aggression, but instead they have become mute spectators. Not only did they fail to raise their voice in the Assembly, but a staged protest was carried out when a few NC members raised slogans. The people are aware that this was nothing but theatrics,” Alam said.
He further alleged that the Union Minister who introduced the Waqf Bill was given a “red carpet” welcome by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Both Omar and Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju have clarified that their meeting at Srinagar’s Tulip Garden was purely coincidental.
