Waqf Board Chairperson must apologise for ‘hurting sentiments’ of people: CM Omar

Srinagar, Sep 6: Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said that the Chairperson of the J&K Waqf Board Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi should apologise to people for “hurting their religious sentiments.”

Talking to reporters in south Kashmir, Omar Abdullah while responding to the incident that took place at Dargah Hazratbal, which saw a crowd defacing national emblem inscribed on a plaque, said that the basic question which needs to be answered was whether it is permissible to place an emblem at religious places or not.

"Till date, I have never seen an emblem being used in any function or at any religious institution. So, what was the compulsion that made it necessary to use an emblem on this stone at Hazrat Dargah," Omar Abdullah asked. He said that even it was not necessary to put up the stone at Dargah Hazratbal. "Wasn’t the work itself enough," he asked.

He further said that Hazratbal Dargah was given its present form and shape by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah. "But everyone knows, did he ever put up such a stone with his name anywhere at the shrine," he said.

He said that people even today remember his (Sheikh Abdullah) work despite the fact that he never put up a stone with his name. "Actually, there was no need to do so. If the work is satisfactory and praise worthy, people will recognize it themselves at any point of time," he said. He however said that Chairperson Waqf Board Dr Darakhshan Andrabi "made a mistake" which otherwise should not have happened.

"And after committing a mistake, she has hurt the emotions of the people. At least, she should apologize for it and say openly that yes, we made a mistake, this emblem should not have been placed on the stone. But they did not do that," he said. Omar Abdullah said such stones are not put up at other religious institutions like Mosques, Temples and Gurudwaras.

"You can even Google it yourself. Government emblems are not used at religious places. They are used only at government institutions. Mosques, Temples, and Gurduwaras are not government institutions, they are religious institutions," he said On remarks of Waqf Board chairperson that FIRs should be registered against those who broke the emblem and should be booked under PSA, Omar Abdullah said instead of tendering an apology, she was threatening people. On Friday, the Waqf Board Chairperson while addressing the media termed removal of the emblem as a direct insult to the shrine.

She said those who carried out this act are no less than terrorists and appealed to the Prime Minister and Home Minister and the law enforcement agencies to arrest them without delay.

“Chaos was deliberately engineered by political workers and their supporters. I had warned that such trouble could be created. FIRs will be filed against everyone responsible, including the MLA whose tweet added fuel to the fire,” she said.