Darakhshan Andrabi lashes out after disfiguring of emblem at Hazratbal shrine, Terms act an assault on Constitution, calls for stern action against NC lawmaker, others
Srinagar, Sept 5, KNT: The defacing of an inauguration plaque at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar bearing the State Emblem of India has triggered a political and religious row in Jammu and Kashmir. The incident drew sharp reaction from Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board Chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi, who convened an emergency press conference.
Andrabi condemned the act, calling it an attack on the Constitution and on those devoted to the Prophet. “It is unfortunate. I had already said I will keep religion aloof from politics. Today’s incident is an attack on the lovers of the Prophet. Today, the attack on the emblem is an attack on the Constitution,” she said.
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Questioning the politics behind the outrage, Andrabi said politicians regularly use the State Emblem in official work. “Don’t politicians use the emblem? Don’t you keep money in your pockets, don’t you enter your homes with money in your pockets?” she remarked.
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Without directly naming any politician, Andrabi referred to NC leader and Zadibal MLA Tanveer Sadiq, who had earlier tweeted that placing the emblem at Hazratbal violated Islamic principles. “A leader tweeted about it. I don’t think he is fit to be called a leader. These people don’t know what religion is. They fed militants in their homes,” Andrabi alleged, calling for strict action.
She urged the police and security agencies to arrest those involved in disfiguring the plaque and demanded that the Public Safety Act (PSA) be invoked against them. “Who told you militancy is restricted to jungles? Militancy is here. Find these goons who disfigured the emblem and slap PSA on them. If this plaque had carried the name of Omar Abdullah, would they have done the same? I want to tell the LG, DGP and IGP not to spare a single individual. Otherwise, I will go on a hunger strike,” she warned adding that FIR should be registered against that politician also who tweeted about it.
Andrabi also announced that shops run by those involved had been closed, stressing that the Hazratbal shrine had been adorned like a bride for the first time in 42 years. “The whole country appreciated it, but some people bled after seeing the development. They cannot tolerate our work. They are not representatives of the people because they don’t believe in the Constitution,” she said.
Meanwhile, NC leader Tanveer Sadiq defended his stand in a post on X. “I’m not a religious scholar but in Islam, idol worship is strictly forbidden—the gravest of sins. The foundation of our faith is Tawheed. Placing a sculpted figure at the revered Hazratbal Dargah goes against this very belief. Sacred spaces must reflect only the purity of Tawheed, nothing else,” he wrote. [KNT]
