Budgam, July 16 (JKNS): Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board and Minister of State, Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi, on Thursday visited the revered Aasar-e-Sharief at Peth Makhama, Magam, and the shrine of Hazrat Baba Latif-ud-Din Reshi (RA) in Khag, Budgam district, where she offered special prayers for peace, prosperity, communal harmony and the well-being of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The visit was part of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board’s ongoing initiative to monitor important religious shrines, strengthen their infrastructure and enhance facilities for devotees and pilgrims.
During the visit, Dr Andrabi conducted a detailed inspection of both shrines and reviewed the arrangements and amenities available for visitors. She assessed cleanliness, maintenance, public conveniences, drinking water facilities, accessibility and other essential infrastructure, directing the concerned officials to ensure a clean, safe and spiritually enriching environment for devotees.
She also interacted with local residents, pilgrims, shrine management committees, Waqf officials and other stakeholders, listening to their suggestions and concerns regarding the maintenance, preservation and development of the shrines. She said the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board remains fully committed to preserving the sanctity, religious significance and cultural heritage of these revered shrines while continuously improving infrastructure and public facilities for devotees.
Dr Andrabi assured the public that all genuine issues raised during the visit would be addressed on a priority basis in coordination with the concerned departments. She reiterated that the Waqf Board is consistently working to strengthen shrine infrastructure, improve public amenities, maintain cleanliness and ensure transparent and efficient administration across all Waqf-managed religious institutions.
Speaking to reporters during the visit, as per news agency JKNS, Dr Andrabi also commented on the ongoing political debate over the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. Referring to the National Conference’s proposed protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, she said statehood would not be restored through political demonstrations.
“Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood will not return through protests at Jantar Mantar,” she said.
Dr Andrabi alleged that the National Conference was attempting to divert public attention from what she described as its governance failures.
“The National Conference has failed to fulfil its promises and is now resorting to protests to divert attention from its shortcomings,” she said.
She further stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have, on several occasions, assured the people that Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood would be restored at an appropriate time.
“The Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister have already assured the people that statehood will be restored. It will certainly be restored, but not because of protests at Jantar Mantar,” she said.
Appealing to the public to maintain faith in the constitutional and democratic process, Dr Andrabi expressed confidence that the assurances given by the country’s leadership would be fulfilled in due course.
Concluding her visit, Dr Andrabi reaffirmed the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board’s commitment to preserving the sanctity, religious importance and historical heritage of shrines across the Union Territory while ensuring improved infrastructure, better facilities for pilgrims and transparent and effective management of Waqf properties.
It is pertinent to mention that the National Conference has announced a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, drawing varied reactions from different political parties. Dr Andrabi made these remarks while speaking to the media during her official visit to the two prominent religious shrines in Budgam district. (JKNS)
