By the banks of Srinagar’s Dal Lake stands the Hazratbal Shrine, revered by millions of Muslims for housing the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It embodies Kashmir’s spiritual identity. Yet, a recent controversy at this sacred site has turned a simple renovation into a political storm, exposing arrogance instead of sensitivity.
The Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, led by BJP-appointed chairperson Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi, installed a foundation plaque for redevelopment with the national emblem engraved on it. For devotees, this was an intrusion into sacred space. Many interpreted the emblem as a form of idolatry, incompatible with Islamic aniconism. On Eid-e-Milad, anger spilled into the open. Worshippers defaced the plaque, chanting against what they saw as a violation of religious purity.
Andrabi’s reaction deepened the crisis. She branded the act a “terrorist attack,” demanded PSA detentions, and equated the vandalism with an assault on the Constitution. Such rhetoric defended symbols of the state but dismissed the community’s religious sensitivities, further alienating a people already bruised by decades of conflict.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah offered a restrained intervention. He questioned the decision, saying, “I’ve never seen the emblem in any religious place,” and urged the Waqf Board to apologize for hurting sentiments. Yet his refusal to strongly condemn the board’s overreach made his position appear half-hearted, more concerned with optics than resolution.
PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti went the other way, defending the crowd as “overcome with emotions” and demanding action against the Waqf Board under IPC 295-A for blasphemy. While her words reflected genuine outrage, they also excused mob violence and risked deepening communal divisions.
This clash is about more than a plaque. It captures the fault lines of Kashmir’s politics after Article 370. For the BJP, the emblem was likely meant as a gesture of integration, but it felt like cultural imposition. For Andrabi, it became a test of loyalty to state authority. For Abdullah and Mufti, it was an opportunity to posture before different vote banks rather than to build consensus.
True development must respect faith and heritage. The Hazratbal Shrine is central to Kashmir’s spiritual life as well as its tourism economy. Its upkeep is necessary, but it cannot ignore theological red lines. The Waqf Board erred in symbolism, while political leaders erred in escalation.
The way forward lies in humility, not confrontation. An apology, dialogue with ulema, and inclusive reforms of the Waqf Board could restore trust. Kashmir needs healing, not symbolic battles. Sacred spaces deserve reverence, not political spectacle.
