The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has announced its intention to approach the Supreme Court in support of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board’s stance on the recently passed Waqf Amendment Bill. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti made the announcement during a press interaction at party office Srinagar, where she voiced her concerns over the implications of the bill and criticized the National Conference (NC) for its understanding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Waqf bill.

Mufti accused the NC of staging a political drama in the assembly regarding the Waqf Bill, suggesting that their actions indicate a tacit agreement with the BJP. She expressed her discontent over Chief Minister’s alleged red carpet welcome for Union Minister Kiren Rijiju at Srinagar’s Tulip Garden, especially in the wake of the controversial bill’s passage in Parliament.

“The Chief Minister’s warm reception of Rijiju is a clear indication of support for a divisive agenda,” Mehbooba stated, emphasizing that such gestures send a troubling message to India’s Muslim population all across the country. “This visit was strategically timed to convey to the 240 million Muslims across the country that their voices are inconsequential, and that even the Chief Minister of a Muslim-majority state aligns with this narrative.”

The former Chief Minister further criticized the NC’s handling of assembly proceedings, claiming that their focus on showmanship undermines critical discussions on other important bills. “Instead of representing the interests of the people, they choose political convenience,” she said.

Mehbooba also accused the NC of deceiving Muslims in the region, asserting that by hosting Rijiju, they have signaled their alignment with the BJP’s Waqf Bill rather than opposing it. She lamented that the ruling party disrupted vital discussions in the assembly, further alienating those they claim to represent.