Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar admn. calls for regulation of Ramzan charity, evokes criticism from NC, PDP

The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Kishtwar, Pankaj Kumar Sharma, issued an order to curb unregulated donations during Ramadan. The order cites the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and requires prior registration and clearance from relevant authorities for charity collection. This move drew criticism from several J&K parties, including Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary and Minister Satish Sharma, who accused officials of interfering in religious affairs. People's Democratic Party leader Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi also condemned the order as unconstitutional and a violation of religious freedom.