"People of one religion are being targeted through this bill": J-K CM Omar Abdullah after SC order on Waqf Act

The chief minister said it's a positive step and hoped that other problematic sections of the Act will also be addressed after the Supreme Court refused to stay the entire law, but put on hold certain provisions of it.

Speaking to the reporters, Omar Abdullah said, "We have been saying that people of one religion are being targeted through this bill. It is good that the Supreme Court has also understood this. It will be good if other objectionable parts in this Act are also highlighted..."

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court refused to stay the entire Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, but put on hold certain provisions pending the final adjudication of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Act. A bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih observed that some sections of the amended Act need some protection.

The Chief Minister has also urged authorities to withdraw the Public Safety Act (PSA) case against AAP MLA Mehraj Malik and release him as soon as possible.

"PSA case against him should be withdrawn and he should be released as soon as possible," Abdullah said.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Mehraj Malik, representing Doda constituency of Jammu and Kashmir, was booked under provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act 1978 (PSA) on September 8 on grounds of his activities being prejudicial to the maintenance of public order.

The Public Safety Act, a preventive detention law, allows authorities in Jammu & Kashmir to detain individuals without trial for up to two years in certain cases.

Abdullah further said the highway closure in the Kashmir Valley is under the central government's control. He added that if it were under him, he would have reopened it.

The CM said he will speak to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to restore the highway.

"If the highway were under me, I would have opened it. This highway falls under the jurisdiction of the Indian government. I will speak to the highways minister Gadkari ji, urging him to restore the highway and open it. I would also like to say to the Railway minister that more trains should be operated from here," the chief minister said. (ANI)