Srinagar 07 September:- response to the vandalism of a plaque bearing the Ashoka emblem at Srinagar’s Hazratbal shrine, police have detained over 25 individuals for questioning after reviewing video and CCTV footage of the incident, which occurred following Friday prayers.
The act has ignited a major political controversy, with parties like the NC, PDP, and CPI(M) condemning the Waqf Board’s installation of the national emblem in a religious space as “provocative” and blasphemous, demanding the removal of its chief, Darakshan Andrabi.
Conversely, the BJP has denounced the vandalism itself, calling it an attempt to revive separatism. Amid the tensions, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that the Waqf Board should apologize for its “mistake,” clarifying that the national emblem is intended for government functions, not religious institutions. While no formal arrests have been made, the investigation is ongoing.
