Jammu, Feb 20: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday clarified in the Legislative Assembly that the recent order issued by the Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar regarding regulation of charity donations during Ramadan was not arbitrary, but based on inputs from local religious leaders and committees.
Speaking in the House, the Chief Minister said that during yesterday’s proceedings, MLA Bandipora and MLA Bashir Veeri had raised objections, alleging that the government was interfering in religious matters following the DC’s order.
“I looked into the matter and found that the DC did not issue the order on his own,” Omar Abdullah said. He explained that prior to Ramadan, a meeting was convened where all Deputy Commissioners were directed to coordinate with local stakeholders and make necessary preparations for the holy month.
The Chief Minister said that during the meeting in Kishtwar, religious leaders informed the administration that several NGOs emerge only during Ramadan to collect donations. “They collect money in the name of patients or charity, but there is no accountability regarding where the funds are used. Sometimes, it is not even known whether the patient in whose name money is raised is alive or not,” he said.
He added that such practices not only lead to misuse of funds but also harm genuine NGOs that work transparently. According to him, local religious bodies and committees themselves requested the DC to regulate the process to prevent fraud and ensure accountability.
“After taking their inputs, the DC issued the order, which has also been welcomed by local bodies and religious leaders,” the Chief Minister said.
Urging legislators not to politicise every issue, Omar Abdullah said, “We should not mix religion with politics. Some matters require dialogue and understanding at the local level rather than political confrontation.”
He emphasized that the intent behind the order was to ensure transparency and protect the sanctity of charitable contributions during Ramadan
