NC’s Tanvir Sadiq Slams Waqf Amendment Bill, Vows to Oppose It Inside and Outside Parliament
Srinagar, Feb 3, : Senior National Conference leader and MLA Zadibal, Tanvir Sadiq, on Monday strongly criticized the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, asserting that his party will oppose it both within and beyond Parliament.
Expressing disappointment over the bill, Sadiq, who also serves as the NC’s chief spokesperson, argued that the concerns of the Muslim community were not genuinely addressed. “Despite repeated pleas and objections raised by Muslim leaders and MPs from various political backgrounds, their concerns were ignored. This is unfortunate and unacceptable. The National Conference will fight against this bill at every platform,” he stated.
Labeling the amendments as a “grave interference” in the religious affairs of the minority community, Sadiq pointed out a contentious provision that allows Hindu individuals to be part of the Muslim Waqf Board, while no such clause exists for Muslim representation in Hindu religious trusts.
On a separate note, the NC leader welcomed Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s recent meetings with Kashmiri Pandits in New Delhi, calling it a “positive step” towards reconciliation. He reiterated his party’s long-standing stance on the return of Kashmiri Pandits to their ancestral homes. “Kashmir is incomplete without them. We firmly believe that Kashmiri Pandits should return and live alongside their Muslim brethren as they did before 1989, not in isolated settlements,” he remarked.
Sadiq emphasized that every effort must be made to facilitate the safe and dignified return of the Pandit community, saying such steps would foster a greater sense of security and harmony in the Valley. “This is a good beginning,” he added.
