• Bill Seeking Ban on Alcohol in J&K to be Introduced in Assembly
  • PDP MLA from Kupwara, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, has submitted a Private Member’s Bill seeking a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The bill, set to be introduced in the upcoming budget session of the J&K Assembly, proposes prohibition on the advertisement, sale, purchase, consumption, and manufacture of alcoholic beverages in the Union Territory.
  • Mir warned that the rising alcohol consumption poses a serious threat to society, stressing the need for strict legislation to curb the trend. The bill also proposes harsh penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for violations.
PDP, PC Move No-Confidence Motion Against Speaker Amid Assembly Chaos Over Waqf Act

PDP, PC Move No-Confidence Motion Against Speaker Amid Assembly Chaos Over Waqf Act

Published on April 8, 2025

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Srinagar | April 8, 2025:
The Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Monday witnessed high drama and chaos as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC) moved a no-confidence motion against the Assembly Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather.

The move comes amid growing unrest in the House after the Speaker refused to allow a debate on the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, citing it as sub-judice. The opposition parties, however, accused the Speaker of siding with the ruling alliance and suppressing voices defending Muslim religious autonomy.

PDP’s Waheed ur Rehman Parra and JKPC’s Imran Reza Ansari jointly spearheaded the motion, calling the Speaker’s conduct “partisan and undemocratic.”

waheed para and fayaz ahmad

“When Tamil Nadu and Karnataka can pass resolutions against this Bill, what stops a Muslim-majority House like ours with 50 Muslim MLAs from doing the same?” questioned Parra during a media briefing.

“This is not just about a Bill. It’s about the Speaker’s biased role and failure to uphold the dignity of the House,” added Ansari, accusing the NC-led government of betraying the people of J&K by remaining silent on a law that directly affects Muslim religious institutions.

The opposition further pointed out that the ruling NC leadership was seen in photo-ops with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who introduced the Waqf Amendment Bill, even as Muslim legislators were denied a platform to debate its implications.

Background:

The Speaker had earlier rejected two adjournment motions to discuss the Waqf Act, claiming the issue is under Supreme Court consideration and thus cannot be debated under Rule 58(vii) of the Assembly.

Opposition parties argue that the matter was not sub-judice when Tamil Nadu and Karnataka debated it, making it a political decision, not a legal compulsion.

Current Status:

The no-confidence motion has added to the already tense atmosphere in the House. All eyes are now on the ruling party’s response and whether the Speaker will address growing demands for a neutral platform to discuss the Waqf issue.

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  • Bill Seeking Ban on Alcohol in J&K to be Introduced in Assembly
  • PDP MLA from Kupwara, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, has submitted a Private Member’s Bill seeking a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The bill, set to be introduced in the upcoming budget session of the J&K Assembly, proposes prohibition on the advertisement, sale, purchase, consumption, and manufacture of alcoholic beverages in the Union Territory.
  • Mir warned that the rising alcohol consumption poses a serious threat to society, stressing the need for strict legislation to curb the trend. The bill also proposes harsh penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for violations.