Srinagar, September 12, 2025 : National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah offered prayers at the Hazratbal Shrine on Friday, along with his son and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, seeking peace and brotherhood between Hindus and Muslims in the country. The visit comes a week after controversy erupted over the placement of a plaque bearing the national emblem (Ashoka Emblem) inside the revered shrine.
Farooq Abdullah urged fruit growers in Jammu and Kashmir to opt for crop insurance, emphasizing its importance in mitigating losses caused by changing weather patterns.
“I have said it many times. Our people don’t know how important it is to have crop insurance. The weather pattern has changed, and if we do not take crop insurance, people will always suffer losses,” Abdullah told reporters.
Speaking about communal harmony, he said, “I prayed to God to forgive our sins, take the people of J-K out of this difficulty, have mercy on India, and ensure that the bond between Hindus and Muslims continues to prevail.”
The controversy arose last Friday when a plaque bearing the Ashoka Emblem, installed by the J&K Waqf Board, was vandalised at the Hazratbal Shrine, sparking strong reactions from political parties. Many accused Waqf Board Chairperson Darakshan Andrabi of hurting religious sentiments and demanded a criminal case and her immediate removal.
Farooq Abdullah remarked, “There is conflict everywhere in the world. Look at the situation in Gaza. Muslims are suffering because we have distanced ourselves from God. Until we return to honesty and compassion, and seek God’s mercy, peace will remain elusive.”
Earlier on Saturday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also visited the shrine on the occasion of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, offering the Maghrib Namaz and praying for peace, harmony, and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir. He criticized the use of the national emblem on a renovation plaque, asserting that it is meant for government functions, not religious institutions, and called for an apology from the Waqf Board for the “mistake.”
After the prayers, Farooq and Omar Abdullah, along with other devotees, were blessed with a glimpse of the holy relic housed in the shrine.
