Islamabad:
The president of Jammu- & Cachemir Salvation Movement (JKSM), Altaf Ahmed Bhat, strongly condemned the installation of the emblem of Ashoka inside the venerated of Hazratbal Sanctuary in Srinagar.
The chief of Senior Hurriyat said that Hazratbal is not only a historic site, but a sacred space for the whole Muslim community of Jammu and Kashmir, because he houses the holy relic of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).
“The attempt to place a sculpted emblem in such a sanctified place is deeply offensive to Islamic principles, in particular the concept of Tawheed, which rejects any form of idol or image in spaces of worship,” said Bhat in a press release.
He congratulated the worshipers of cashmere who, out of love and respect for their faith, eliminated the emblem, qualifying their action a clear expression of the devotion of the people to Islam and their refusal to let politics interfere on their religious life.
Bhat criticized the role of the authorities of the WAQF board of directors in this case, declaring that such decisions are motivated by political agendas rather than by authentic religious considerations.
He warned that any effort to modify the spiritual character of the mosques and sanctuaries of the cashmere will be resisted by people with unity and determination.
“Sacred spaces are intended for prayer and spiritual reflection, and not for political exhibitions. The people of cashmere will never allow their holy sites to be desecrated or transformed into symbolism platforms. Our inheritance and our faith are non-negotiable,” he said.
Controversy broke out after the installation of a renovation plate in the historic emblem of the mosque carrying Ashoka – which is also the national emblem of India. The plate would have been vandalized by unidentified people and the emblem was removed with stones, followed by arrests.
