The installation of a plaque with the Ashoka emblem at the Hazratbal shrine that was vandalised on Friday has snowballed into a controversy in Kashmir, with political parties demanding an apology from Waqf Board chairperson and BJP leader Dr Darakhshan Andrabi and seeking legal action against her for “hurting religious sentiments”.
Those opposing the plaque say that idol worship is strictly forbidden in Islam. On Saturday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called for an apology from Andrabi, while former CM Mehbooba Mufti demanded that she be booked under sections of hurting religious sentiments.
The National Conference also called on Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to dismiss Andrabi, saying the controversy has been “deliberately” created in view of the elections in Bihar.
“First of all, the question is whether the stone should have had an emblem or not. I have never seen such an emblem being used in any religious institution or function. Google it and see, the government emblem is not used anywhere. The government emblem is only used in government functions. Mosque, dargah, temple, gurdwara, these are not government institutions, these are religious institutions,” Omar said to reporters in south Kashmir. “So what was the compulsion to use an emblem on this stone at Hazratbal?”
“What is the use of issuing threats?” Omar said when asked about Andrabi calling the protesters terrorists and asking for their arrest under the Public Safety Act. “The sentiments of the people were played with. At least apologise for that. Say yes, we made a mistake, it (emblem) should not have been on the stone.”
This story was originally published in indianexpress.com. Read the full story here.
