Islamabad:
The president of Jammu and Kashmir of Salvation (JKSM), Altaf Ahmed Bhat, has strongly condemned the installation of the Ashoka emblem within the venerated Sanctuary of Hazratbal in Srinagar.
The senior leader of Hurriyat said that Hazratbal is not only a historical site but a sacred space for the entire Muslim community of Jammu and Kashmira, since it houses the Holy Reliquia of the Holy Prophet (La Paz is with him).
“The attempt to place a sculpted emblem in such a sanctified place is deeply offensive for Islamic principles, especially the concept of Tawheed, which rejects any form of idol or image within the spaces of worship,” Bhat said in a statement.
He praised the faithful of Kashmiro who, for love and respect for their faith, eliminated the emblem, calling for their action a clear expression of the devotion of the people to Islam and their refusal to let politics be entrified into their religious life.
Bhat criticized the role of the WAQF Board authorities in this matter, stating that such decisions are driven by political agendas instead of genuine religious considerations.
He warned that any effort to alter the spiritual character of Mosques and Sanctuaries of Kashmiro will be resisted by people with unity and determination.
“The sacred spaces are intended for prayer and spiritual reflection, not for political exhibitions. Kashmir people will never allow their sacred sites to be desecrated or become platforms for symbolism. Our inheritance and our faith are not negative,” he said.
A controversy broke out after a renewal plaque was installed in the historic mosque with Ashoka emblem, which is also the National Emblem of India. The plaque was supposedly shattered by unidentified people and the emblem was eliminated with stones, followed by arrests.
