Hazratbal emblem row: Iltija Mufti urges respect for public sentences

Srinagar, Sept 8  : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti on Monday said that the installation of the national emblem on an inauguration plaque inside the revered Dargah Hazratbal has deeply hurt the religious sentiments of people in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to KNS, Iltija while addressing a press conference in Srinagar said that religion should not be dragged into politics and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to withdraw the FIRs lodged against several people over the issue.

“The emotions of people must be respected. Instead of filing cases against locals, there should be accountability of those who decided to place the emblem inside a religious place. We also demand that the Waqf chairperson be removed from her position, as she is not an elected representative of the people,” she said.

Iltija added that PDP members had approached two police stations seeking registration of an FIR against the Waqf chairperson, but the police showed hesitation. “If they fail to act, we will approach the Honourable Court,” she said.

She also remarked that repeated incidents that touch upon religious sensitivities only increase the distance between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and New Delhi. “If the government truly wants to bridge the ‘distance of heart’ and ‘distance of Delhi,’ such steps must be avoided,” Iltija said.(KNS)