Srinagar, Sept 08: Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Kulgam, Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami on Monday said the detentions of locals over the Hazratbal Dargah incident were unfortunate and avoidable.
He said that lodging an FIR against several people, who reacted spontaneously to what they felt was meddling with a religious place and had hurt their emotions and sentiments, was unjustified.
“It wasn’t really necessary, nor was it any case of national security, to arrest people. If at all an FIR was to be filed, it should have been against those who provoked people in the first place by placing the emblem plaque at a religious institution,” Tarigami said in a statement issued here.
He said such actions were “highly provocative and unnecessary”, as the shrine is deeply connected to people’s emotions. “This move has dealt a blow to those sentiments, and instead of calming the situation, an attempt is being made to provoke people further,” he remarked.
The CPI(M) leader said the National Emblem is respected by all, but the law itself prohibits its association with religious places. “At a time when we all want peace, harmony, and reduced divisions, opening this new chapter is unjustified,” he added.
Tarigami said the Hazratbal shrine has always symbolised unity and harmony, attracting people from diverse faiths, and any attempt to drag it into politics amounts to playing with public emotions.
