Condemning the detention of about 30 people after the defacement of the National Emblem at Srinagar’s Hazratbal shrine, ruling National Conference (NC) MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Sunday questioned the context of placing the National Emblem inside the dargah.
In a statement, Ruhullah described the police action as an “act of operational retribution” at a time when statesmanship demanded an approach of reconciliation and empathy from the administration.
“It is equally disappointing that this issue is being institutionally distorted to represent a twisted litmus test for nationalism,” he stated.
“The idea of India is an idea of mutual co-existence, where religious and cultural sentiments and precedents are not affronts to a collective national identity but integral values that define it. To portray the manifestation of a sentiment of hurt that organically emerged in the dargah as a reflection of an ‘anti-national’ sentiment is a disservice to the nation, the Constitution, and the values it enshrines. It is also a collective and expedient vilification of the people of Kashmir.”
“The stature of the National Emblem is not in question here, nor a matter of debate. The matter of concern is the context of placing the National Emblem inside the Hazratbal Dargah. There is a world behind inauguration plaques, and it seems like the powers that be continue in their refusal to see that world,” he said.
“The situation that arose at the Hazratbal Dargah stemmed from an instigation that was provided, if not engineered, by those who failed to understand the gravity of this act.”
Ruhullah said, “There are laws that define the precedent and scope of using the National Emblem. There are also laws against hurting religious sentiments and creating disharmony in society. While the police and authorities have taken an operational and punitive recourse by detaining people, why aren’t they equally serious in the application of those laws? Why aren’t those who created this unfortunate situation at one of our most revered religious sites being held legally accountable?” he questioned.
“It is pertinent to state that it is not a case of moral judgment against other religious beliefs and practices either. To speak about the prohibition of idol worship or idolatry in this context is irrelevant and misses the forest for the trees. While Islam teaches us to respect the sentiments and religious rights of others, it also clearly prohibits the depiction of any living beings inside our mosques and other places of worship. This is a categorical, unequivocal prohibition and is not a prohibition in the context of the National Emblem,” the MP stressed.