Mob defaces Hazratbal shrine plaque; BJP’s Andrabi terms it ‘very unfortunate’, but CM Omar questions govt emblem at holy site

SRINAGAR: A mob defaced the national emblem inscribed on the foundation stone of the Assari Sharief Hazratbal Shrine, which is undergoing reconstruction and redevelopment under the Waqf Board. A viral video has surfaced showing a mob defacing the national emblem on a stone plaque with stones. The Hazratbal shrine is a revered religious site in Srinagar, housing the holy relic of the Prophet Mohammad.

Faith is respected,but the Nation is supreme.
Those who broke the Emblem at Hazratbal have attacked the soul of India. Let it be clear no shrine,no leader,no politics is above the Nation.Era is over when such acts found space,this is Naya Kashmir here,the Nation stands above all pic.twitter.com/8hTvC4Q7Ny

— Kamran Ali Mir (@kamranalimir) September 5, 2025

Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board chairperson and BJP leader Dr Darakshan Andrabi strongly condemned the vandalism of the stone plaque at the shrine, terming the incident a “very unfortunate”. Andrabi said, “This incident is very unfortunate. Tarnishing the national emblem is a terrorist attack, and the attackers are the goons of a political party. These people destroyed Kashmir earlier as well, and now they have openly come inside the Dargah Sharif”.

ANI | On the viral video of a mob tarnishing the national emblem on the foundation stone of the Hazratbal Shrine, BJP leader and Chairperson of J&K Waqf Board, Dr Darakshan Andrabi says, “This incident is very unfortunate. Tarnishing the national emblem is a terrorist attack, and… pic.twitter.com/ET2qBDN9iX

— Dr Darakhshan Andrabi (@drdarakhshan) September 5, 2025

She added that a Waqf administrator present at the site narrowly escaped an attack, adding that the mob not only insulted the national emblem but also “damaged the dignity of the dargah.” Andrabi said, “Our administrator had a narrow escape. The mob attacked him as well… This mob has committed a huge crime by tarnishing the national emblem. They have damaged the dignity of the dargah, and once they are identified, they will be banned from entering the dargah for life and an FIR will be filed against them”.

However, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday questioned the use of the national emblem on the plaque of renovated Hazratbal Shrine, adding that he has never seen it used at any religious places. He emphasised that government emblems are only used at government functions, not in religious places like mosques, dargahs, temples or gurdwaras.

“The first question is whether the emblem should have been etched on the foundation stone. I have never seen the emblem being used in any religious place. So, what was the compulsion to have the emblem on the stone at Hazratbal Shrine? What was the need to put up the stone? Was just work not enough?” Omar Abdullah said.

#WATCH | Anantnag, J&K | On viral video of a mob tarnishing the national emblem on the foundation stone of Hazratbal Shrine, CM Omar Abdullah says, “The first question is whether the emblem should have been etched on the foundation stone. I have never seen the emblem being used… pic.twitter.com/oAyyby5HGN

— ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2025

“Hazratbal Shrine was given this form by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. Did he put up such stones anywhere? People remember his work, despite his not putting up a stone for himself. Government emblems are used only at government places. Mosques, dargahs, temples, Gurdwaras are not government places; these are religious places; government emblems are not used there”, Omar Abdullah said.

Leader of Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Sunil Sharma, said that such incidents won’t be tolerated and action should be taken. Sharma said, “It is unfortunate and condemnable. Some people insulted the national emblem. This should not be tolerated. Police and Administration should take action against such elements.”

Meanwhile, National Conference (NC) MLA, Tanvir Sadiq, criticised Andrabi over the controversy at the Hazratbal shrine, saying that Andrabi had “hurt religious sentiments” by allowing a plaque, adding that no structures resembling sculptures should be installed inside a dargah.

“She should feel ashamed for not understanding religious sentiments. She has crowned herself inside the Hazratbal shrine. As per our ‘Tawheed’, we cannot place a sculpture inside any religious place. She should know this.” Chief Spokesperson. @tanvirsadiqpic.twitter.com/xkHOhwSuvE

— JKNC (@JKNC_) September 5, 2025

“She should feel ashamed for not understanding religious sentiments. She has crowned herself inside the Hazratbal shrine. As per our ‘Tawheed’, we cannot place a sculpture inside any religious place. She should know this… Instead of apologising, she has threatened to file an FIR against those children. It is not right to hurt religious sentiments… No sculpture should be present inside a dargah… This is not a government building, this is a religious place”, Sadiq said.

Meanwhile, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday defended the vandals of the stone plaque saying that it is not right to call these people terrorists and individuals involved were “overcome with emotions”. Mufti held the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board and its members responsible for the escalation of the event and demanded action against them under Section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), claiming what they did was an act of “blasphemy”.

“Hazratbal is connected to our Prophet and any sort of blasphemy is not acceptable to any Muslims. The previous government, our government and others also worked a lot for Hazratbal but if you do any sort of thing at that place that is unacceptable and considered blasphemy for… pic.twitter.com/3oXdodtcyf

— J&K PDP (@jkpdp) September 6, 2025

Addressing a press conference, the PDP chief said, “The people who vandalised after getting overcome with emotions and they are not against the emblem… It is not right to say that these people should be arrested under the Public Safety Act and they are terrorists… I would say there should be action against those who are demanding action under section 295-A because this is blasphemy for us… Any act which hurts the sentiment of a particular religion, then there should be action against this. I would urge CM Omar Abdullah to take action in this matter. Waqf board is responsible in this… Action under section 295-A should be taken against those responsible, especially the Waqf board…” (ANI)