Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 26: Even as the religious places including mosques and shrines are not personal property, miscreants on the day of Eid-ul-Azha attacked former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah at the Hazratbal shrine here and tried to push him out when he was there to offer the congregational Eid prayers with fellow Muslims.
Despite the unlawful and unethical assault on a devotee at the shrine, the concerned including civil and police administration and the Wakf Board which is the custodian of the revered shrine have been silent.
Officials said under norms the police should have filed a case whereas it was the duty of the Wakf Board to file a formal complaint in this regard. Dr Abdullah has been facing public fury from pro-separatist lobby for having chanted Bharat Mata Ki Jai at condolence meeting held in connection with the demise of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the national capital.
"This is not the question of former Chief Minister or National Conference President. It is essentially the question of a devotee being attacked inside shrine which is not anyone's personal property," said a senior official in know of the matter.
Pertinently on August 22, the miscreants who were chanting slogans in favour of azadi and militant Zakir Musa wanted to push Dr Abdullah out of the shrine ahead of the congregational prayers.
Amid hooting and anti-India sloganeering even from the Public Address System, devotee Abdullah was being asked to leave the venue.
But interestingly even though his personal security officers looked unnerved, Farooq Abdullah stood back like rock and left the place only after offering the Eid prayers.
Observers said it was against the ethics of Islam to make anyone leave the mosque. "Masjid is for all and no one can be disallowed from offering prayers. This is not the question of politics or influence but religion," said a devotee.
Sources said the police have not filed any case of attack on Dr Abdullah though he had a visible threat to life that day. "Miscreants were trying to push him out," said a witness.
Sources said the police was waiting for Dr Abdullah or the Wakf Board to file a formal complaint. But the Wakf board is unmoved.
"Why should we file any complaint. If anyone has issues let them themselves file complaint," said a Wakf board official.
Despite repeated attempts, Dr Abdullah couldn't be contacted for comments. |
