Jammu: Tension gripped Srinagar’s Hazratbal Dargah on Friday after a group of people vandalised a newly built inauguration plaque carrying the Ashoka pillar. The incident occurred soon after Friday prayers, when a large crowd gathered, raised slogans against the Waqf Board, and hurled stones.
The Hazratbal Dargah, regarded as the holiest shrine for Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir, houses relics of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Earlier this week, the Waqf Board unveiled a renovation project worth crores and placed the national emblem on the plaque.
Hazratbal Dargah protests deepen political row in Kashmir
The emblem’s use sparked sharp criticism. The National Conference and other opposition groups said the move offended religious sentiments. PDP leader Iltija Mufti accused the authorities of deliberately provoking the community.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah echoed these concerns. He questioned why the national emblem was placed at Hazratbal when the renovation itself was enough.
The controversy has now widened into a religious and political row, bringing faith, symbols, and governance into sharp focus.
