Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 8: National Conference Chief Spokesperson and MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq today said that the incident at Dargah Hazratbal was “spontaneous” as the religious sentiments of people had been “hurt.”
Speaking to reporters, Sadiq reiterated his demand for action against the Waqf Board Chairperson, accusing her of “vitiating the atmosphere” and disturbing harmony.
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“What happened at Dargah should not have happened; it could have been handled better. But people’s sentiments were hurt, and the reaction was spontaneous,” he said.
Sadiq termed the FIRs and the threat of invoking the Public Safety Act (PSA) against the protesters as “wrong,” calling it “unfortunate.”
He insisted that a case should instead be registered against the Waqf Board Chairperson for two reasons – “first, the misuse of the National Emblem without any authority, and second, creating opposition and hurting sentiments, thereby vitiating the atmosphere.”
“We request the Prime Minister, Home Minister and the Lieutenant Governor to dismiss such a person who wants to destroy peace and harmony in Kashmir without any delay,” he said.
Sadiq further stated that the ongoing investigation into the defacement of the National Emblem should also bring the Waqf Chairperson under its ambit.
“The national emblem is never used at religious places or functions, not even by the Prime Minister or the LG. If it has been used here, it appears to be a conspiracy. When the emblem is used, it signifies state promotion, which cannot be associated with a religious institution,” he said.
Chief Minister’s Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, also commenting on the emblem controversy, said installing the plaque at Hazratbal had “politicised” an otherwise noble initiative.
“By using the emblem at a religious place, they politicised it. It was unnecessary and unprecedented. Why it was used here and for what purpose, I fail to understand,” Wani said.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam M. Y. Tarigami described the detention of locals over the Dargah Hazratbal incident as “unfortunate and avoidable.”
He said filing FIRs against several people, who had “reacted spontaneously” to what they felt was “interference” in a religious place, was “unjustified.”
“Action should have been taken against those who provoked people in the first place by placing the emblem plaque at a religious place,” he said.
Tarigami added that while the national emblem is respected by all, the law itself “prohibits its association with religious places.”
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