Srinagar, Oct 13: A dispute over the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board’s move to finalise common topics for Friday sermons snowballed into a bitter political confrontation on Tuesday, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accusing the BJP-led Centre of interfering in the religious affairs of Muslims and Waqf Board chairperson Darakshan Andrabi countering that politicians had no business deciding what was good for society.
In a post on X, CM Omar Abdullah said the attempt was unacceptable and would not be tolerated under any circumstances, specifically targeting the BJP-appointed chairperson of the minority body. This is an unacceptable attempt by the BJP to interfere in the religious affairs of Muslims and will not be accepted under any circumstances, he posted. The BJP appointed Chairperson must immediately halt this misplaced attempt to please her masters.
The Chief Minister’s remarks followed a demand by National Conference chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq for the withdrawal of an order concerning Friday sermons, which he alleged amounted to interference in religious matters, questioning the BJP’s authority to decide what imams and khateebs should say.
Former JK CM and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti also hit out at BJP, accused the party of using Jammu and Kashmir as a “laboratory” to test policies aimed at interfering in the religious affairs of Muslims, as she strongly opposed the Waqf Board’s proposal to introduce uniform Friday sermons in mosques.
The former Chief Minister alleged that the proposal was part of a broader political agenda to exercise control over Muslim religious practices and warned that similar measures could eventually be implemented across the country.
Jammu and Kashmir has become a laboratory for the BJP. First, such measures are tested here and then implemented across the country,” Mehbooba said, drawing parallels between the proposed uniform Friday sermons and the BJP’s push for a Uniform Civil Code.
She questioned the authority of the Waqf Board and the Union government to determine the content of Friday sermons, saying religious scholars and Imams were best placed to address the concerns of their respective communities.
These are our mosques, built with the money of our people. Our Imams and Maulvis know what to say and when to say it. Who will decide what Khutba our Imam should deliver on Friday? she asked.
Budgam MLA Aga Muntazir Mehdi too criticised the Waqf Board’s decision to constitute a committee of Muftis, Imams and Khateebs to finalise common topics for Friday sermons, saying the Board should stick to its administrative duties instead of interfering in religious discourse.
Dr Darakshan Andrabi hit back at NC leadership, asking, Who are the politicians to decide what is good for the welfare and betterment of society? We have religious scholars whom Allah has endowed with abundant knowledge. They are the ones who can decide better and know better how to bring improvement in society.
Questioning the NC leader’s standing to speak on religious matters, she said, Who is Tanvir Sadiq? Is he really more well-read and more knowledgeable than our religious scholars and clerics? The BJP leader alleged that the NC has never appreciated good work and is always criticising.
Sheikh Saleem Bin Ahmad is a journalist and media professional from Jammu and Kashmir. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Kashmir Convener, an English-language newspaper established in 2006 and based in Srinagar.
He holds a postgraduate degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir. His professional experience spans journalism, editorial management, government public relations and media communication.
His earlier professional experience includes reporting with media organisations and working with the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR).
He is one of the youngest Editors-in-Chief in India by taking charge as Editor-in-Chief at The Kashmir Convener in 2015at the age of 26.
Through journalism and editorial leadership, he seeks to strengthen public-interest reporting and bring regional issues to a wider readership.
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