JAMMU, Feb 20: Amid backlash over an order curbing unauthorized donation collections during Ramzan, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the Assembly it’s a community-backed move to stop scams, not government meddling—and urged politicians to back off.
Kishtwar’s Deputy Commissioner issued the order Wednesday after religious leaders flagged fake NGOs popping up just for the holy month. Responding to Congress MLAs Gulam Ahmed Mir and Nizam-ud-Din Bhat’s Thursday objections, Abdullah said he dug in and confirmed it wasn’t arbitrary. All DCs got pre-Ramzan instructions to consult locals.
In Kishtwar, Muslim clerics shared how fraudsters collect cash “in the name of charity or patients whose existence cannot be verified,” with zero accountability on spending. This hurts real NGOs too. “Religious leaders specifically requested the DC to intervene,” Abdullah explained. Even Jamia Masjid Kishtwar’s Imam welcomed it.
“Based on these genuine concerns… the deputy commissioner issued the order,” he added. Pleading for calm, Abdullah said, “We should sometimes go into the details. Many decisions are taken after consultations… Such matters should not be dragged into politics.” Mir and Bhat had called for its immediate scrap.
