Omar Abdullah Condemns Waqf Board Proposal for Uniform Sermons

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other political and religious leaders condemned a proposal by the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board to introduce uniform themes for Friday sermons across affiliated mosques. Abdullah described the initiative as an unacceptable attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party to interfere in the religious affairs of Muslims. PDP President Mehbooba Mufti and the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, joined the criticism, arguing that a statutory body cannot regulate preaching from the pulpit.

Waqf Board Chairperson Darakshan Andrabi initially defended the move as a necessary step to address social evils, including drug abuse, suicide, and mental trauma. However, following the backlash, Andrabi retracted the statement and denied that any mandatory order had been issued. She clarified that the board intended to form a core committee of independent religious scholars and preachers to coordinate themes, rather than imposing directives from board officials or politicians.

Andrabi expressed pride in her affiliation with the BJP during the controversy. The dispute occurs amid ongoing tensions following India's 2019 decision to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its semi-autonomous status and the subsequent replacement of local waqf management with federal laws.