Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Jan 14: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today described the alleged profiling of mosques and Imams in J&K as a direct interference in religious affairs and an attempt to “distance Muslims from their faith.”
Speaking to reporters at the party headquarters here, Mufti questioned what she termed the “selective targeting of Muslim religious institutions,” saying such measures were creating fear among religious scholars and those associated with mosques.
She alleged that authorities were collecting Aadhaar details, photographs and personal profiles of Imams despite already having complete records of mosques and their management committees.
“If the Government genuinely wants to monitor religious leaders, why not begin with temples? Identify which priest serves in which temple, who is allowed into the inner sanctums, and how much money is paid for access,” Mufti said.
She asserted that no such practices existed in mosques and pointed out that law enforcement agencies in J&K already had comprehensive data on land holdings and other details related to religious institutions. “There is no justification for profiling Imams afresh,” she added.
Mufti said similar measures were not being implemented elsewhere in the country and warned that steps initiated in J&K could be replicated nationwide.
“Earlier, they went after Waqf institutions, and now they have started this. What does the government have to do with our religious affiliations?” she said.
Raising the issue of caste-based discrimination, Mufti also demanded accountability in temples where Dalits are allegedly denied entry.
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