Omar challenges the party & Competitors support the order to monitor charitable works during Ramadan

SRINAGAR/JAMMU: J&K President Omar Abdullah on Friday defended an order issued by local authorities in Kishtwar in Jammu regulating the collection of zakat (charity) during the month of Ramadan amid widespread criticism of the move, including by some of his Cabinet colleagues and its ally Congress.Addressing the assembly, Omar urged lawmakers to “not politicize every issue” and explained that the February 18 order was issued by the Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner after consulting religious leaders as a security measure to check donation scams. Omar said: “We must not mix religion with politics. Some matters require dialogue and understanding at the local level instead of political confrontation.”The DC order says the aim is to check “unregulated and unauthorized fundraising by individuals” during Ramadan. It warns against collecting donations by “unregistered” individuals or institutions without obtaining permission from the Wakf Board or sub-divisional judges.Omar referred to a debate in the House of Representatives on Thursday when Congress members Nizamuddin Bhatt and J. Er Mir the case and denounced the matter as interference in religious affairs.

“I looked into the matter and found that the mayor did not issue the order on his own,” Omar said.According to Omar, many expressed concerns about the misuse of charitable groups at a pre-Ramadan meeting with religious leaders in Kishtwar. “They told the DC that genuine charitable organizations are suffering losses due to donors being misled by fraudulent groups. The DC issued the order on the advice of these religious leaders,” Omar said, adding that the move was welcomed by the Imam of Kishtwar Jamia Mosque and other clerics in the area.Many were not convinced. Deputy Prime Minister Surender Chowdhury criticized the matter, saying such a decision should not have been taken at the district level when there was an elected government. Tanveer Sadiq, spokesman for Omar’s ruling National Congress, also exposed the “local directive.” “I think this is interference in religious affairs,” Sadiq said.The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) joined the chorus of condemnation, with MLA Waheed Para arguing that charity was not a security issue and urging the directive to be reconsidered.

Communist Party of India State Minister Mai Tarigami said the matter “casts doubt on the entire Muslim community.”The BJP was the only one to welcome the order. Opposition leader in Jammu and Kashmir, Sunil Sharma, alleged that some individuals collect zakat during Ramadan and use the money for “anti-national activities”. He called for such measures to be taken elsewhere to prevent the misuse of charity for subversive purposes.