ANC Seeks Waqf Board Dissolution; MMU, Congress, Tarigami Add to Criticism
Kashmir pen News Desk
Srinagar, Sept 6: The uproar over the installation—and subsequent breaking—of an Ashoka emblem plaque at the revered Hazratbal Shrine has set off a wave of political and religious condemnation across Jammu and Kashmir, with leaders demanding accountability and cautioning against actions that could inflame public sentiment.
ANC Senior Vice President Muzaffar Shah denounced the episode as “reckless tampering with faith” and called for the immediate dissolution of the J&K Waqf Board. Citing the shrine’s unmatched sanctity, Shah warned that introducing such emblems was a grave violation of Islamic tradition. “Hazratbal is the most sacred shrine in J&K. Such moves wound the sentiments of lakhs of devotees. The elected government must step in, and lessons must be drawn from the Moy-e-Muqaddas movement,” he said.
The Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, voiced “serious anguish” at the development, insisting that Islamic injunctions prohibit plaques or symbols within mosques and shrines. The MMU demanded the immediate removal of the emblem, warned against repeating such acts in the future without consulting scholars, and condemned the filing of FIRs against worshippers as “unjustified and harsh.”
The Congress Party called the incident “most unfortunate and uncalled for,” questioning whether “personal or political motives” had driven the act. The JKPCC stressed that while national symbols deserve respect, their placement in shrines is inappropriate. The party urged resolution in a manner that safeguards both constitutional values and religious sensitivities.
Echoing these concerns, senior CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami labelled the move a “deliberate provocation,” accusing authorities of manufacturing unrest. “Otherwise, there was no reason to place the emblem at the shrine. The act is politically motivated, and instead of targeting devotees, action must be taken against officials who hurt people’s sentiments,” Tarigami said.
As the row deepens, the Hazratbal shrine—revered for housing the Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) relic—once again finds itself at the intersection of Kashmir’s faith and politics. Leaders across the spectrum have warned against repeating past mistakes, urging swift corrective measures to protect the sanctity of the shrine and preserve communal harmony.
