The floor of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was virtually converted into a 'battleground' after members of the treasury and opposition benches came close to exchanging blows, exhausted their 'lung' power raising religious and patriotic slogans, tore apart paper bills, their jackets after the speaker of the house disallowed adjournment motion moved by the National Conference to discuss the Waqf (Amendment) Act, saying the matter was sub judice.

The leader of the house, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, was not present inside the Assembly when the ruling party MLA Tanvir Sadiq moved an adjournment motion to discuss the Waqf law.

As the leader of the opposition, Sunil Sharma, confronted the ruling party MLA, several others converged near the well of the house and started raising slogans seeking adjournment of the question hour to discuss the Waqf Amendment Act.

"It is a religious matter concerning our faith. There is no issue more pressing than this. Will you, Speaker, adjourn the house to address this critical issue?" Sadiq said.

Chaos prevailed even as the speaker tried to pacify the agitated members of the treasury benches and repeatedly told them to return to their seats.

As the house witnessed complete pandemonium, NC and Congress members started raising slogans targeting the decision of the BJP-led Union government.

The BJP members responded by shouting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai," which was then countered by NC, Congress, and PDP members chanting "Allah hu Akbar."

The BJP members also shouted slogans like "Vande Mataram" and "Jaha hua balidaan Mukherjee, wo Kashmir hamara hai." NC, Congress, and PDP members matched it with loud chants of "Nara-e Takbeer."

As chaos continued, several NC members tore up the question papers and threw them in the air.

Intervening, the Speaker referred to rule 58, sub-section 7, stating that issues pending in the court cannot be discussed in the House. "The bill is currently sub judice in the Supreme Court. I have received writ petitions. It cannot be debated here," he said. He also stressed that the constitutionality of the Bill is a matter for the court to decide.

PDP member Wahid Para pointed out the religious significance of the matter.

"It is a crucial religious matter. The Tamil Nadu Assembly has passed a resolution on it. The house should act accordingly," he said.

The Speaker said the Tamil Nadu Assembly's resolution predated the court proceedings. "It is sub judice. I will not allow an adjournment," he asserted.  

Before the house convened after a long break on Monday, the Chief Minister was seen hosting the Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, in the sprawling lawns of the Tulip Garden in Srinagar. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah was also seen greeting the Union Minister in the Tulip Garden.

The newfound bonhomie between the Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Omar Abdullah also provoked sharp reactions from some of the opposition members, especially the Peoples Democratic Party Chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her daughter Iltija Mufti.

"Waqf Law bonhomie! So soon. Not even a pretence while the ruling party members indulge in a drama in the assembly over the issue. Mr Rijiju piloted the bill in Parliament as minority affairs minister," PDP leader Naeem Akhtar said.

Another PDP leader and party's MLA from Pulwama, Waheed Para, said the Muslims of J-K have been "reduced to props" in the government's "political theatre" -- useful on stage, but far too inconvenient to represent when real decisions are to be made.

The Pulwama MLA said the NC has rolled out a red carpet at the Tulip Garden for the Union minister, who introduced and defended the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Parliament.

"Let's be clear: No resolution on Waqf is silent approval. And the NC MLAs can protest for optics all they want. But we know that the CM and NC patron have rolled out a red carpet in the Tulip Garden for none other than Kiren Rijiju - the very Minister who introduced and defended the bill in Parliament," he said.

Peoples' Conference chief Sajad Lone said the chief minister should have stayed away from the Union minister as a mark of protest.

"The least Muslims of India deserved was that in J and K, the only Muslim majority province in India, the CM as a mark of protest, stayed away from Mr Kiren Rijju, who presented the waqf bill. Instead, he tags along with Farooq sahib as well. What a shame," Lone said in a post on X.

After the house was adjourned for the rest of the day, the ruling alliance MLAs held protests outside the House over the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

The MLAs of the National Conference (NC), Congress, CPI(M) and some Independents staged a dharna at the entry gate of the Assembly and protested against the BJP-led government at the Centre.

“BJP resorted to manhandling in the House. They raised religious slogans. We reminded them that this is not a wrestling ring. We are here to raise constitutional issues,” NC member Altaf Kaloo told reporters.

 Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma accused the ruling NC of inciting religious sentiments in Kashmir through its protest in the J&K Assembly. He called the disruption unconstitutional and alleged bias by the Speaker.

He also pointed out that NC MPs remained silent in Parliament but are now creating unrest over a passed bill.