Ashoka Emblem at J&K's Hazratbal shrine vandalised, Waqf Board chief demands action

Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board Chairperson Dr Darakshan Andrabi on Friday called for the registration of FIRs against those involved in vandalising the inauguration plaque at Hazratbal shrine, where the national emblem was placed during the recent renovation ceremony.

The plaque, which carried the national emblem, was broken by a group of people who opposed its presence at the shrine. The act has sparked a political and religious controversy.

National Conference (NC) spokesperson and Zadibal MLA Tanvir Sadiq objected to the emblem, saying placing a sculpted symbol in a religious space goes against Islamic beliefs. He said that Islam strictly forbids idol worship and the emblem’s presence violated the principles of Tawheed.

"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," Sadiq said in a post on X.

Reacting to the incident, Andrabi said those who broke the plaque were trying to disturb peace and must be treated as lawbreakers.

“This is not just damage to stone. This is damage to the Constitution,” she said at a press conference at Hazratbal. She also questioned whether leaders who oppose the emblem reject its presence on currency notes.

Andrabi alleged that some political leaders were provoking people for personal and political gain. She specifically named Tanvir Sadiq and demanded an FIR be filed against him as well.

"The person who has tweeted (Sadiq), is this his doing? Are they playing politics once again? It is unfortunate what the leader did. He is not worthy of being called a leader," she said.

Andrabi also asked police and Waqf officials to bodily search the MLA if and when he visits the shrine, "so that there are no currency notes in his pocket. Otherwise, if he has, then that will be 'makroh' (detestable) to be taken inside".

The Waqf Board chief said she had warned the police about a possible disruption and called those who removed the emblem “militants,” claiming they were not just hiding in jungles but operating openly.

She said she would sit on a hunger strike if FIRs are not filed and those responsible are not arrested.

"I appeal to the DGP, the IGP and security forces to register FIRs against all of them, book them under the PSA and arrest them. Otherwise, I will sit on a hunger strike," the Waqf Board chairperson said.

The incident drew reaction from other political figures as well. Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi defended those who removed the plaque, calling it a reaction to what he described as an attempt to use a religious place for political display.

“Attempts to monumentalise egos inside Hazratbal are not acts of devotion but of arrogance. A sacred place that has stood for centuries needs no one’s nameplate for legitimacy. People were rightly offended by this dangerous attempt to play with religious sensitivities for self-glorification,” Mehdi said in a post on X.

“Hazratbal has seen reconstructions before, but never were such means used to claim credit. Any talk of using PSA in this case only adds insult to injury. It is foolish, unacceptable, and an assault on people’s attachment with their beloved shrine,” he added.

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