Waqf Board should apologise for mistake: Omar
STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: A massive controversy is raging in Jammu and Kashmir after a plaque with the Ashoka emblem was vandalised in the Hazratbal shrine as parties on Saturday accused Waqf Board chief Darakshan Andrabi of hurting religious sentiments by using the national emblem in the mosque and demanded registration of a criminal case and her immediate removal.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while on a tour of flood-affected areas, said the Waqf Board should apologise for the “mistake,” asserting that the national emblem is meant for government functions, not religious institutions.
While parties like the NC, PDP and the CPI(M) said the use of Ashoka emblem in the mosque was “provocative” and “blasphemous”, the BJP slammed the defacement of the plaque, claiming the incident was an attempt to revive “terrorism and separatism” in the Valley.
The plaque was placed inside the Hazratbal shrine, which holds a relic of Prophet Muhammad, on Friday, sparking outrage among devotees who argued that placing any figure or symbol inside a mosque is against the Islamic principle of monotheism. The plaque was subsequently vandalised and removed by unidentified individuals after Friday prayers, prompting police to register a case against unknown people.
“I have never seen an emblem being used in this way in any religious place,” Abdullah told reporters. “Mosques, shrines, temples and gurdwaras are not government institutions. These are religious institutions and government emblems are not used in religious institutions.” Abdullah also questioned the need for the plaque itself, noting that the shrine’s founder, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, had completed his work without seeking personal credit. He said the Waqf Board should have apologised for the incident instead of resorting to threats. “What was the need for this plaque? Was the work done not enough? Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah gave shape to this shrine… Even today, people remember his work, even though he did not use a stone in his name. There was no need to use a stone,” the chief minister said.
The controversy escalated when Andrabi, a BJP appointee, called for legal action, including booking the “hooligans” under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), for vandalising the emblem.
Abdullah condemned Andrabi’s response, saying that the board “played with the sentiments of the people” and is now using threats.
“First, at least, they should have apologised for it. They should admit the mistake. It should not have happened,” the CM said.
He said that nowhere in the country is the national emblem used on any religious place. “Google search and you will find that the national emblem is only used in government functions,” he said.
Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) demanded Andrabi’s dismissal and the registration of a criminal case against her for allegedly violating the State Emblem of India Act.
The party stated that the emblem is a symbol of unity and integrity, but its misuse should not be tolerated.
“What happened in Hazratbal is unfortunate. We are against violence in any form,” said NC’s chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, who was flanked by a dozen MLAs. However, he stressed that the Waqf Board chairperson’s actions had hurt the religious sentiments of the people.
Sadiq, while condemning the vandalism, said the Waqf Board chairperson’s actions were “unfortunate” and asked why she would use the emblem in a religious function when the Prime Minister and Lieutenant Governor do not.
NC’s MLA from Hazratbal, Salman Sagar, expressed apprehensions that it could have been a deliberate ploy to exploit the situation in the run-up to the Bihar elections.
“I think this was pre-planned. The situation may be exploited for the Bihar elections. It could be used as a fodder for right-wing activists,” he claimed.
People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone said the use of the national emblem on the renovation plaque at the shrine was “regrettable”.