J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah (File photo) SRINAGAR/JAMMU: J&K CM Omar Abdullah on Friday defended an order by local authorities in Jammu’s Kishtwar regulating collection of zakat (charity) during Ramadan amid widespread criticism of the move, including by some of his cabinet colleagues and ally Congress.Speaking in the assembly, Omar urged legislators “not to politicise every issue” and clarified that the Feb 18 order was issued by the Kishtwar deputy commissioner (DC) after consulting religious leaders as a safety measure to check donation deceptions. “We shouldn’t mix religion with politics. Some matters require dialogue and understanding at the local level rather than political confrontation,” Omar said.The DC’s order says the aim is to check “unregulated and unauthorised collection of donations by individuals” in Ramadan. It warns against collection of donations by “unregistered” individuals or institutions without permission from Wakf Board or sub-divisional magistrates.Omar referred to a House debate on Thursday when Congress MLAs Nizamuddin Bhat and GA Mir had raised the issue and denounced the order as an interference in religious affairs. “I looked into the matter and found that the DC did not issue the order on his own,” Omar said.According to Omar, many had raised concerns about the misuse of charitable collections at a meeting ahead of Ramadan with religious leaders in Kishtwar. “They told the DC that genuine charitable organisations suffer losses as donors are misled by fraudulent groups. The DC issued the order on the advice of these religious leaders,” Omar said, adding the move had been welcomed by the Imam of Jamia Masjid Kishtwar and other clerics in the district.Many were not persuaded. Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary decried the order, saying such a decision should not have been taken at the district level when an elected govt was in place. Tanvir Sadiq, spokesperson for Omar’s governing National Conference (NC), also debunked the “localised directive”. “I think it is interference in religious affairs,” Sadiq said.Opposition PDP joined the chorus of condemnation, with party MLA Waheed Parra arguing that charity is not a security issue and urging reconsideration of the directive. CPI(M) state secretary MY Tarigami said the order effectively “casts suspicion on the entire Muslim community”.BJP was the only one to welcome the order. J&K leader of opposition Sunil Sharma alleged that some individuals collect zakat during Ramadan and use the funds for “anti-national activities”. He called for such measures elsewhere to prevent misuse of charity for subversive purposes.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Not Negotiated’: India Explains UN Statement on Israel’s West Bank ExpansionSam Altman Applauds India AI Summit, Calls PM Modi’s Vision InspiringMamata Banerjee vs Election Commission: Supreme Court Orders Judicial Oversight in Bengal SIRIndia Delivers Grim Terror Reminder To Pakistan After Khawaja Asif Alleges Delhi-Kabul Proxy NexusMEA’s Clears India’s Position On Russia Oil After US Envoy Conveys Trump’s Wish On Venezuelan OilHigh Drama At AI Summit Amid Congress’ Shirtless Protests, BJP Calls Party ‘Shameless’ | Headlines@8AI Prodigy Raul John Aju Thrilled After Meeting UN Chief in DelhiBJP Targets Rahul Gandhi Over AI Summit Protest RowBeyond Oil: How India & US Are Securing the Future of AI ChipsCongress Paradox: Tharoor Lauds AI Summit While Youth Stages Shirtless Protest at Venue123PhotostoriesFrom ‘The Kerala Story’ to ‘Pathaan’: 12 Indian films that faced massive controversy before releaseTop 5 Tier-2 cities in India driving real estate growth in 20265 fascinating facts about Indian hill stationsFrom Shikhar Dhawan to Rashmika Mandanna: Indian celebrities who found love again after bitter divorce or break up6 animals that have mastered cave life and are rarely seen by humans10 best rated Jackfruit dishes from around the worldWhy is your expensive gold and silver always wrapped in pink paper? The surprising truth behind this traditionBringing back the style: Zendaya to Margot Robbie, all the celebs who are bringing back fashion trends this seasonTop 6 tallest buildings in India in 2026Archana Puran Singh reveals how she and husband Parmeet Sethi have slept separately for ‘7 years’; “We are on a sleep divorce”123Hot PicksIndia-US trade dealGold rate todayDelhi traffic advisoryArjun’s wedding ceremonyIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays February 2026Bank Holidays februaryTop TrendingMyles GarrettDonna KelceChloe KimDeenTheGreatDetroit Pistons vs New York Knicks InjuryMumbai Coastal RoadGurgaon Girl RapeMarcus StoinisNBA Trade NewsSidney Crosby Injury
SRINAGAR/JAMMU: J&K CM Omar Abdullah on Friday defended an order by local authorities in Jammu’s Kishtwar regulating collection of zakat (charity) during Ramadan amid widespread criticism of the move, including by some of his cabinet colleagues and ally Congress.Speaking in the assembly, Omar urged legislators “not to politicise every issue” and clarified that the Feb 18 order was issued by the Kishtwar deputy commissioner (DC) after consulting religious leaders as a safety measure to check donation deceptions. “We shouldn’t mix religion with politics. Some matters require dialogue and understanding at the local level rather than political confrontation,” Omar said.The DC’s order says the aim is to check “unregulated and unauthorised collection of donations by individuals” in Ramadan. It warns against collection of donations by “unregistered” individuals or institutions without permission from Wakf Board or sub-divisional magistrates.Omar referred to a House debate on Thursday when Congress MLAs Nizamuddin Bhat and GA Mir had raised the issue and denounced the order as an interference in religious affairs. “I looked into the matter and found that the DC did not issue the order on his own,” Omar said.According to Omar, many had raised concerns about the misuse of charitable collections at a meeting ahead of Ramadan with religious leaders in Kishtwar. “They told the DC that genuine charitable organisations suffer losses as donors are misled by fraudulent groups. The DC issued the order on the advice of these religious leaders,” Omar said, adding the move had been welcomed by the Imam of Jamia Masjid Kishtwar and other clerics in the district.Many were not persuaded. Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary decried the order, saying such a decision should not have been taken at the district level when an elected govt was in place. Tanvir Sadiq, spokesperson for Omar’s governing National Conference (NC), also debunked the “localised directive”. “I think it is interference in religious affairs,” Sadiq said.Opposition PDP joined the chorus of condemnation, with party MLA Waheed Parra arguing that charity is not a security issue and urging reconsideration of the directive. CPI(M) state secretary MY Tarigami said the order effectively “casts suspicion on the entire Muslim community”.BJP was the only one to welcome the order. J&K leader of opposition Sunil Sharma alleged that some individuals collect zakat during Ramadan and use the funds for “anti-national activities”. He called for such measures elsewhere to prevent misuse of charity for subversive purposes.
