Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 5 : Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board chairperson and BJP leader Dr Darakshan Andrabi on Friday strongly condemned the vandalism of a stone plaque at the Assari Sharief Hazratbal Shrine, terming the incident a "very unfortunate".
A viral video had surfaced showing a mob defacing the national emblem inscribed on the foundation stone of the shrine, which is undergoing reconstruction and redevelopment under the Waqf Board.
Speaking to ANI, Andrabi said, "This incident is very unfortunate. Tarnishing the national emblem is a terrorist attack, and the attackers are the goons of a political party. These people destroyed Kashmir earlier as well, and now they have openly come inside the Dargah Sharif."
She added that a Waqf administrator present at the site narrowly escaped an attack, adding that the mob not only insulted the national emblem but also "damaged the dignity of the dargah."
Andrabi said, "Our administrator had a narrow escape. The mob attacked him as well... This mob has committed a huge crime by tarnishing the national emblem. They have damaged the dignity of the dargah, and once they are identified, they will be banned from entering the dargah for life, and an FIR will be filed against them."
Leader of Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Sunil Sharma, said that such incidents won't be tolerated and action should be taken.
Sharma said, "It is unfortunate and condemnable. Some people insulted the national emblem. This should not be tolerated. Police and Administration should take action against such elements."
Meanwhile, National Conference (NC) MLA, Tanvir Sadiq, criticised Andrabi over the controversy at the Hazratbal shrine, saying that Andrabi had "hurt religious sentiments" by allowing a plaque, adding that no structures resembling sculptures should be installed inside a dargah.
"She should feel ashamed for not understanding religious sentiments. She has crowned herself inside the Hazratbal shrine. As per our 'Tawheed', we cannot place a sculpture inside any religious place. She should know this... Instead of apologising, she has threatened to file an FIR against those children. It is not right to hurt religious sentiments... No sculpture should be present inside a dargah... This is not a government building, this is a religious place," Sadiq said