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News Topical, Digital Desk : Police have detained more than 25 people in connection with the dispute over the Ashoka Pillar installed in the stone plaque 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 vandalism of the Ashoka symbol at Hazratbal Dargah. This action has been taken after examining the CCTV footage.
Officials said that after examining the video and CCTV footage of the vandalism incident that took place after Friday prayers, the police have detained more than 25 people. A senior police officer said, "No one has been formally arrested yet, but some people are being questioned."
Controversy erupted after the Ashoka symbol plaque was vandalised
A major controversy erupted in Kashmir on Friday (05 September) after a plaque with the Ashoka symbol was vandalised at the Hazratbal shrine. Political parties accused Waqf Board chief Darakhshan Andrabi of hurting religious sentiments by using the national symbol in the mosque and demanded a criminal case against her and her immediate removal.
Waqf Board should apologize for its mistake- Omar Abdullah
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stressed, "I have never seen the emblem being used in this manner at any religious place. Mosques, dargahs, temples and gurudwaras are not government institutions. The Waqf Board should apologize for this mistake. The national emblem is for government functions, not for religious institutions."
While parties like the National Conference, PDP and CPI(M) called the use of the Ashoka symbol at the mosque provocative and blasphemous, the BJP strongly condemned the vandalisation of the plaque, claiming the incident was an attempt to revive terrorism and separatism in the Valley.
National Conference condemned the incident
The National Conference has condemned the violence and demanded not only an apology from the Waqf Board chairman but also his removal from the post. NC MLA and chief spokesperson Tanveer Sadiq said, "We will write a letter to the Assembly Speaker demanding the formation of a committee to investigate the financial and property irregularities of the Waqf during the last five years."
Case filed against unknown persons
The plaque was placed inside the Hazratbal shrine on Thursday, where a relic of Prophet Muhammad is kept, sparking outrage among devotees who said placing any figure or symbol inside a mosque is against the Islamic principle of monotheism. After Friday prayers, unidentified persons broke and removed the plaque, following which the police registered a case against unidentified persons.
The controversy further escalated when Andrabi, appointed by the BJP, demanded legal action, including prosecution under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), against the accused for vandalising the symbol.
Wakf Board played with the sentiments of the people- CM
CM Abdullah condemned Andrabi's reaction, saying, "The board played with the sentiments of the people and is now issuing threats. "First of all, at least she should have apologized for this. She should have accepted her mistake. This should not have happened," the Chief Minister said.
PDP demanded to register a case of blasphemy
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has demanded that a blasphemy case be registered against Dr. Darakshan Andrabi and the Waqf officials under Section 295-A. CPI general secretary Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami, while supporting the demand for the removal of the Waqf president, called the installation of the Ashoka symbol inside the dargah a conspiracy to provoke people's religious sentiments.
The local unit of BJP is in support of Darakshan Andrabi but due to religious sentiments many BJP leaders have also come out in opposition. Now after people have been taken into custody, there are chances that the matter will get more serious.
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