Srinagar, Sept 7 (JKNS): Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said that the inauguration board carrying the National Emblem at Hazratbal should never have been placed there, asserting it was wrong and hurt public sentiment.
Speaking to media persons, Dr Farooq, as per news agency JKNS, said, “What happened at Hazratbal was wrong. They should not have placed that board there. This shrine was built through the contributions of the people here, including my late father. Not a single rupee came as a favor from anyone.”
Recounting a story from his father Sheikh Abdullah’s life, Dr Farooq said, “I remember my father collecting donations for this Dargah at Habba Kadal. He reached one house where a woman came out with only a single utensil in her possession. She offered it, but my father said, ‘You have nothing else, I cannot take this from you.’ The woman replied, ‘Sheikh Sahib, I am not giving this to you, I am giving it for the Prophet (PBUH). If you don’t take it, you will have to answer before Allah.’ My father then accepted it.”
He added, “This shrine, like all others here, was built with the hard-earned money of the people, in the name of Allah and His Messenger (PBUH). Even when Hazratbal was built, Sheikh Abdullah never placed a board with his name on it. But this time, they put up a board, and people rejected it because they felt it was wrong.”
Dr Farooq further remarked, “Now they should realise that what they did was wrong. We are a peace-loving people, and in the spirit of peace and harmony, I believe they must understand this and not repeat such acts.” (JKNS)
