By Jehangir Ali
Srinagar: An order by the district administration of Kishtwar to monitor and regulate charitable fundraising activities during the ongoing Islamic month of Ramzan has triggered a political row in Jammu and Kashmir.
While J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah has defended the order, his party colleague and chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq termed it as “interference” in religious affairs of Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Congress called for the order to be revoked while describing it as “unconstitutional”.
The ex-parte order was issued on Wednesday (February 18) by the deputy commissioner (DC) of Kishtwar, Pankaj Sharma under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 on the eve of Ramzan which began across the country on Thursday.
The order warned against the collection of donations in Kishtwar by ‘unregistered’ individuals or institutions without permission from the Wakf Board officials or the concerned sub-divisional magistrates.
A ‘district vigilance helpline’ has also been set up to report such donation activities, “Citizens are encouraged to report any instances of fraudulent solicitation or harassment,” the order said, while directing the senior superintendent of police (Kishtwar) and all sub-divisional magistrates to “ensure strict enforcement”.
Defending the move, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in J&K assembly and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sunil Sharma alleged on Thursday that “unregulated” donations have been used for “subversive and anti-national activities”.
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here.
