Chief Minister Omar Abdullah presided over a joint meeting of the ruling National Conference (NC) and its alliance partners in Srinagar on Friday, where two resolutions were passed denouncing the Waqf Amendment Bill's passage in Parliament and what was described as the undermining of the vast public mandate in Jammu and Kashmir.

Legislators from the National Conference (NC), along with their alliance partners, including Congress and independent members, gathered at Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary’s residence. The Chief Minister called this meeting after Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha allegedly bypassed the elected government by transferring 48 middle- and lower-level JKAS officers on Eid. “The legislative party meeting was chaired by CM Omar Abdullah. It was attended by NC and its alliance partners including Congress and independents,” senior NC leader and MLA Tanvir Sadiq told reporters after the meeting.

He said that two key resolutions were passed during the meeting. The first condemned the passing of the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament, saying it goes against the interests of the country's minorities. The second resolution opposed the disrespect of the public’s mandate in Jammu and Kashmir.

“It was asserted that if anybody undermines the public mandate, it would mean that the mandate is not respected,” Tanvir said. “We have been saying repeatedly that public mandate has to be respected. Our effort has been to resolve the issues of the public through our coordination with the Centre and the LG administration,” he said. “Don’t take our coordination and our silence as our weakness,” the NC MLA asserted.

“We are making this appeal for the last time—do not push us to the wall. While we want there should be coordination with the Centre and LG administration, don’t take our coordination as our weakness. Don’t take our silence as our weakness.” Congress leader Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, who was also present at the meeting, told reporters that the forum had a detailed discussion on the sensitive issues currently affecting Jammu and Kashmir, such as respecting institutions and the public's mandate, as well as properly implementing the Constitution.

“The resolutions were passed unanimously. We stand behind the Chief Minister. If there is anything untoward which we have taken exception to, the alliance will take a call on the forum of the Assembly, as that is the only proper forum after Parliament where you have to represent people’s aspirations, defend their dignity and respect their honour. Give the popular government full space to function,” he said.

“We will take a call in the Assembly. Wait,” asserted Bhat. Sources have said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is upset because 48 JKAS officers were transferred by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha without informing or consulting him. These transfers took place while Omar was busy celebrating Eid. According to National Conference (NC) sources, the Chief Minister sees this move as the LG interfering in the work of the elected government and trying to take full control over the administration.

They said that although the Lieutenant Governor (LG) has the authority to transfer IAS officers, the power to transfer JKAS officers belongs to the elected government. So, these transfers were viewed as going beyond the LG’s authority. Sources said that Omar, unhappy with this move, has also written to the Ministry of Home Affairs.