J&K Govt Removes First Elected CM Sheikh Abdullah's Image From Police Medals, Move Sparks Controversy

This move of the administration has been sharply criticised by other regional parties including the National Conference founded by Sheikh Abdullah.

New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir Police Medal for gallantry and meritorious services will no longer carry the embodied image of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, who played a key role in Kashmir's 'entry' into India after the country's partition. The Jammu and Kashmir administration has not only decided to replace the portrait of former Chief Minister Sheikh Abdullah with the national emblem but also renamed the 'Sher-e-Kashmir' medal named after Sheikh Abdullah as the Jammu and Kashmir Police Medal. 

This move of the administration has been sharply criticised by other regional parties including the National Conference founded by Sheikh Abdullah. Parties that have criticized the decision include the National Conference's long-time rival People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Significantly, in 1947, Sheikh Abdullah rejected the two-nation theory and ensured that this Muslim-majority region became part of India. The order to change the picture of Sheikh Abdullah has been issued by the Home Department of Jammu and Kashmir.

"It is hereby ordered that in modification to the Para 4 of the Jammu & Kashmir Police Medal Scheme, the Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah embossed on one side of the medal shall be replaced with the National Emblem of Government of India and the other side inscribed with the J&K State Emblem shall be inscribed as Jammu and Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry’ and Jammu and Kashmir Police Medal for Meritorious Service’ in case of Gallantry/Meritorious Medal, as the case may be," Financial Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Raj Kumar Goyal said in the latest order.

National Conference spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar called it an “erasing of the history".

“With due respect to National Emblem, these attempts to erase our history, identity and icon show nefariousness of those running the show. People of J&K have struggled on many fronts to be where they are now. They fought oppression, autocracy. No one can change that. Not by replacing or changing names. Sheikh Abdullah will continue to rule the hearts of people of J&K, no matter what they or their masters do," the NC leader said.

Significantly, Sheikh Abdullah has been the leader of Kashmir's entry into the Indian Union. Apart from this, he is also credited with thwarting the attack of Pakistani invaders who tried to annex Kashmir in October 1947 with the help of his volunteers. 

Sheikh stood firmly against the Pakistani attackers even when Maharaja Harisingh fled from Kashmir after the attackers' attack. Sheikh Abdullah strongly opposed the two-nation theory of dividing India on the basis of religion of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and decided to become a part of the secular state. Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir believe that removing Sheikh Abdullah's picture and renaming the Police Medal cannot "delete" his contribution.