Srinagar, Sept 5 : Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi, on Friday accused political opponents of orchestrating violence at the Hazratbal Shrine, calling it an attack not only on property but on the faith of devotees.
At a press conference in Srinagar, Andrabi said the Board had worked for a year on the reconstruction and renovation of the shrine, which was inaugurated earlier this week on Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi. “At the Dargah of Hazratbal, we completed the work of reconstruction and beautification. The entire Valley, across India and overseas, witnessed this event. For the first time in decades, Hazratbal was illuminated as a place of worship,” she said.
She alleged that incident, in which the shrine emblem was damaged, was politically motivated. “This blow was not only on the stone. This blow was on the heart of the Dargah. This blow is today on that constitution which is prayed by the elected leaders here,” Andrabi said as per KNS.
The Waqf Board chairperson said she had alerted the police earlier in the day about possible disturbances. “I had warned the SHOs that they will definitely have stones in their hands, they will definitely have hammers in their hands. Since yesterday, they feel there is darkness in front of their eyes because the bread they cooked on corruption has stopped. Now, on what will they be cooked?” she said.
Wihout naming, Andrabi referred to a post on X by NC leader and Zadibal MLA Tanvir Sadiq soon after the press conference was announced. “As soon as I announced the press conference, an MLA posted on X. That is why I am saying, when they come to the Dargah or the mosque, security forces and Waqf employees should search their pockets so that there is no money inside. Because if they take out a note, there is an emblem on that note,” she said.
Andrabi said the Waqf Board had sought to stay away from politics. “We tried to keep the Waqf Board away from politics. But it is a matter of regret that today, an incident took place. By the way, he is not worthy of being called a leader. They sent their goons and created a ruckus,” she said.
Andrabi called upon the administration to act. “These are the goons who have broken the emblem with stones today. Find them, take them out, put a PSA on them. Not even one of them should be spared,” she said, adding that she had apprised the DGP and the LG about the incident.
She also criticised mainstream political leaders, including the Abdullahs, accusing them of misrule. “They had already done hooliganism in Kashmir, and their hooliganism went on for 35 years. They had kept militants in their homes. Today, the same terrorists have come to the Dargah,” she said.
The Waqf chief said the Board would continue its work. “We are decorating the Dargahs and this is our job. We will not stop. But I regret such people. They are not worthy of being called representatives. They are not worried about Jammu and Kashmir at all,” she said.
“My heart is shattered seeing these people working against faith. I feel sorry for these politicians. If an FIR is not lodged against those involved, including the assembly member who posted, I will sit on hunger strike,” she added.(KNS)
