The police have detained more than 25 people in the case of dispute over the Ashoka Pillar in Shilapat at Hazratbal Dargah in Srinagar. Officials said on Sunday (07 September) that more than two dozen people have been detained for questioning in connection with the sabotage with Ashoka Icon at Hazratbal Dargah. This action has been taken after examining CCTV footage.

Officials said that more than 25 people have been detained by the police after investigating the video and CCTV footage of the incident after Friday prayers. A senior police officer said, “No one has been formally arrested yet, but some people are being questioned.”

Controversy erupted after sabotage of Ashoka sign plaque

In Kashmir on Friday (September 05), there was a big controversy in the Hazratbal Dargah after sabotage with a plaque with Ashoka sign. Political parties accused Waqf Board chief Darkhshan Andrabi accused of hurting religious sentiments using the national mark in the mosque and demanded a criminal case against them and immediately removing them.

Waqf Board should apologize for mistake- Omar Abdullah

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah insisted, “I have never seen the use of insignia in this way at any religious place. Mosques, dargahs, temples and gurudwaras are not government institutions. The Waqf Board should apologize for this mistake. The national mark is for government work, not for religious institutions. ”

While parties like the National Conference, PDP and CPI (M) described the use of Ashoka sign in the mosque as provocative and blasphemous, the BJP strongly condemned the damaged plaque and claimed that the incident is an attempt to rewrite terrorism and separatism in the valley.

National Conference condemns the incident

The National Conference has condemned the violence and not only apologized to the chairman of the Waqf Board, but also to remove them from the post. NC MLA and Chief Spokesperson Tanveer Sadiq said, “We will write a letter to the Speaker of the Assembly demanding to set up a committee to investigate the misappropriation of Waqf’s financial and properties during the last five years.”

Case filed against unknown people

The plaque was placed inside the Hazratbal Dargah on Thursday, where a relic of Prophet Muhammad is kept, causing resentment among the devotees. He said that keeping any shape or symbol inside the mosque is against the Islamic principle of monotheism. After Friday prayers, unknown people broke the plaque and removed, after which the police registered a case against unknown people.

The dispute increased further when the Andrabi, appointed by the BJP, demanded legal action, including prosecution of the accused under the rigorous Public Safety Act (PSA) to break the insignia.

Waqf Board played with people’s feelings- CM

CM Abdullah condemned Andrabi’s response, saying, “The board played with people’s feelings and is now threatening. The Chief Minister said, “First, at least they should have apologized for this. They should accept their mistake. It should not have happened.”

PDP demands to file a case of blasphemy

PDP President Mehbooba Mufti has demanded a case of blasphemy under section 295-A against Dr. Darkshan Andrabi and Waqf officials. The same CPI general secretary Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami, while supporting the removal of the Waqf president, termed the people’s religious condolences to install the Ashoka mark inside the dargah.

The BJP’s Sithanya unit is in support of Darkhshan Andrabi, but due to religious sentiments, many BJP leaders have also stood in protest. Now after people are taken into custody, there are chances of catching the case more.

The case of the inauguration plaque with the state mark in the Hazratbal Dargah has heated the politics of Jammu and Kashmir. PDP President Mehbooba Mufti demanded strict action against the Waqf Board and its chief, calling the incident deep on the religious sentiments of Muslims. At the same time, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also raised the question and said that there was no need to put a government symbol at the religious place.

Mehbooba Mufti attacked Waqf Board

Mehbooba Mufti directly called Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to suspend the Waqf Board immediately and later dissolve it and restruct it. He said that the use of state symbol at a holy site like Hazratbal Dargah is completely inappropriate.

Mehbooba said, “Instead of taking action against those who spoil the symbol due to religious sentiments, the government should file an FIR against the chairman of the Waqf Board and the members who allowed to do so. Hazratbal is a religious place, not the coronation or the site of political symbolism.”

Demand for action under Section 295-A

The PDP president connected the matter to Section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code. This stream is related to the intention taken with the intention of hurting religious sentiments. Mehbooba said that the Waqf Board is responsible in this case and legal action should be taken against it.

Mehbooba Mufti strongly criticized the Waqf Board Chairman Darkhshan Andrabi. He said that it is completely wrong to demand PSA on plaque breakers.

Mehbooba said, “It is unacceptable to urge the Home Minister of India to apply PSA on local people. The real question is, who allowed to put a logo on a shrine where there is no idea of ​​idol worship.”

He said, “It was not a BJP program. Unfortunately, Hazratbal’s sanctity was compromised in this way. If the current board still continues to work, then such actions affected by the BJP’s anti-Muslim ideology will keep hurting the sentiments of Muslims.”

‘Why symbol at the religious place?’- Omar Abdullah

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also presented his side on this dispute. He said that government symbols are never used at religious places nor has any tradition.

Omar Abdullah said, “The first question is whether the symbol should have engraved the foundation stone. I have never seen this symbol being used in any religious program. So why was the need to apply it on the stone of Hazratbal Shrine? What was the need to put the stone? Wasn’t it just enough to work? Hazratbal Shrine was given this form by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. Did he put such a stone somewhere?”

He said, “People remember the work of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, even if they have not put any stone for themselves. Government symbols are used only in government programs. Mosques, dargahs, temples, temples, gurudwaras are not government places, these are religious places. Government symbols are not used there.”