Srinagar: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday defended the individuals who vandalized the stone plaque at the revered Assari Sharief Hazratbal Shrine, stating that it is inappropriate to label them as terrorists, as they were “overcome with emotions.”
Mufti held the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board and its members responsible for escalating the situation and demanded action against them under Section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), describing their actions as an act of “blasphemy.”
Her comments came after a video went viral showing a mob defacing the national emblem on the foundation stone of the shrine, which is currently undergoing reconstruction and redevelopment under the Waqf Board.
Addressing a press conference, the PDP chief said:
“The people who vandalized the plaque were overcome with emotions and are not against the emblem. It is not right to say that they should be arrested under the Public Safety Act or call them terrorists. I believe action should be taken against those demanding punishment under Section 295-A, as this, in our view, constitutes blasphemy. Any act that hurts the sentiment of a particular religion should be addressed. I urge CM Omar Abdullah to take action in this matter. The Waqf Board is responsible, and Section 295-A should be applied against those accountable, especially the Waqf Board.”
Earlier, on Friday, Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board chairperson and BJP leader Dr. Darakshan Andrabi strongly condemned the vandalism at the Assari Sharief Hazratbal Shrine, calling the incident “very unfortunate.”
