Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah questioned the engraving of the emblem on the plaque at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, saying it's a religious place and not a government institution. The Chief Minister's remark comes a day after some devotees at the revered shrine defiled the emblem on the plaque by smashing it with a stone.
"The first question is whether the emblem should have been etched on the foundation stone," Abdullah asked.
"I have never seen the emblem being used in any religious function. So, what was the compulsion to have the emblem on the stone at Hazratbal Shrine? What was the need to put up the stone? Was just work not enough? Hazratbal Shrine was given this form by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. Did he put up such stones anywhere? People remember his work, despite his not putting up a stone for himself," said the National Conference leader.
"Government emblems are used only at government functions. Mosques, dargah, temples, Gurdwara are not government places, these are religious places; government emblems are not used there," he added.
The incident, which took place on the occasion of Eid-e-Milad, triggered a political row in Jammu and Kashmir as the Bharatiya Janata Party demanded action against those who tried to "obliterate" the national emblem.
Meanwhile, People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said those who vandalised the emblem did so out of emotion and added that they were against the emblem.
"The people who vandalised after getting overcome with emotions; they are not against the emblem. It is not right to say that these people should be arrested under the Public Safety Act and that they are terrorists. This is blasphemy for us. Action under section 295-A should be taken against those responsible, especially the Waqf board," she said.