The Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, regarded as the holiest Muslim shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, has once again landed in controversy after worshippers vandalised a plaque carrying the Ashoka emblem inside the complex.
The shrine, situated on the northern banks of Dal Lake, is revered for housing the Moi-e-Muqqadas, believed to be a strand of hair of Prophet Muhammad. For centuries, it has remained a spiritual centre for Kashmiri Muslims, but it has also been tied to episodes of political and religious upheaval.
The present controversy erupted after the national emblem was installed within the shrine, drawing strong objections from sections of worshippers who argued that Islam forbids sculptures or emblematic figures inside mosques and shrines. They accused the Waqf Board and shrine managers of showing insensitivity to religious sentiment, saying the plaque undermined the sanctity of the space.
The shrine’s past controversies add weight to the uproar. In 1963, the relic itself was reported missing, sparking massive protests across the Valley and communal riots in West Bengal and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had ordered a CBI probe, and the relic was later recovered and identified by religious leaders. Three decades later, in 1993, the shrine witnessed a month-long Army siege after militants took refuge inside, triggering international concern before ending without bloodshed.
Political reactions to the current incident have been swift. Former CM Omar Abdullah called the installation of the emblem “deeply insensitive,” asking why it was placed in the first instance. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti went further, demanding an FIR under Section 295-A against Waqf Board chairperson and BJP leader Darakhshan Andrabi, instead of action against the protestors. The National Conference too urged Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to dismiss Andrabi, accusing her of deliberately stirring sentiments ahead of elections.
The Muttahida Majlis Ulema (MMU), an umbrella body of over two dozen Islamic organisations, condemned the episode as “a dangerous and unnecessary precedent,” stressing that no plaques, emblems, or figures have any place in shrines.
The BJP, however, backed Andrabi, terming the vandalism a “terrorist act.” Party spokesperson Altaf Thakur argued that the emblem is a national symbol present on passports, Aadhaar cards, and currency notes, questioning why it should be objected to inside a shrine.
