Union Minister for Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju has strongly condemned the vandalism of the Ashoka Emblem at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, calling it an attack on a sacred symbol of unity and peace.
In a post on X, Rijiju said, “Hazratbal Shrine is a symbol of peace. The shrine’s deep connection to the Prophet Muhammad’s relic has truly contributed to its image as a beacon of faith and unity. I strongly condemn the vandalism of the sacred Ashoka Emblem from the Dargah Hazratbal inauguration stone.”
His remarks came in response to J&K Waqf Board Chairperson Dr. Darakshan Andrabi, who described the act as a “terrorist attack” and demanded strict legal action against the culprits. A viral video showed a mob defacing the national emblem on a marble plaque at the shrine, claiming that sculpting figures violated Islamic ethos.
Andrabi said the attackers also targeted the shrine’s administrator, who narrowly escaped. She asserted that those responsible had “committed a huge crime” and would face a lifetime ban from entering the shrine, in addition to an FIR.
The incident has triggered a political row, with National Conference leader Tanvir Sadiq criticising the installation of the emblem, calling it a violation of Islamic principles, while PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti termed it “blasphemous” and demanded the disbandment of the Waqf Board. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also questioned the decision to use the national emblem at a religious site.
The Hazratbal Shrine, one of the most revered religious places in Kashmir, houses the holy relic of Prophet Mohammad and holds immense spiritual significance for Muslims across the Valley.
