Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather has strongly condemned the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, labeling it a direct infringement of the Indian Constitution. Rather emphasized that the bill contradicts Section 25, which guarantees the Right to Religion, and cautioned against interfering in religious or personal affairs.
The Speaker’s remarks come after the Indian Parliament’s passage of the contentious legislation, which was defended by the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as a measure to benefit minorities. However, opposition parties slammed the bill as “anti-Muslim.”
Rather warned that overriding such rights could set a perilous precedent, stating, “It is not good to interfere in anybody’s religion or personal affairs.” The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, has sparked intense reactions across political and religious circles, with critics alleging that it aims to dilute the autonomy of Muslim religious institutions. The opposition has vowed to challenge the legislation, deeming it an attack on the fundamental rights of the Muslim community.
