Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 11: The Shia community today protested in Srinagar in response to remarks made by Altaf Bukhari, the leader of the Apni Party, that they believed were extremely derogatory to their religious beliefs.
Protesters gathered in Srinagar’s Pantha Chowk and Zadibal areas, calling for stern punishment of Bukhari for his allegedly sacrilegious remarks. During the protests, supporters burned the effigies of the AAP leader and demanded harsh punishment for offending their religious feelings.
BJP leader, Aijaz Hussain, led the protest at Panthachowk to denounce Bukhari’s statement, which he felt was an attempt to sow division among the communities. Hussain demanded that the politician should publicly apologize for his words and harsh punishment for him. “He pointed a finger at our religion yesterday. He should publicly apologize because his comments harmed Imam Hussain’s followers all around the world,” he said.
Similar protests also took place at Alamgari Bazar, where demonstrators voiced their concerns and urged the government to take decisive action against Bukhari. They emphasized their detachment from politics and reiterated their commitment to peaceful coexistence.
“We want Altaf Bukhari to explain his statement. We urge the Government to take strict action against him. We do not intend to harm anyone, but if anyone tries to hurt our religious sentiments, we will not tolerate it,” a protestor asserted.
Meanwhile, Altaf Bukhari clarified that his comment was never intended to hurt anyone’s feelings. He expressed his regret for any misunderstandings caused by his words and stated. “I want to clarify that I hold the followers of Imam Hussain (AS) in the highest regard, and I strongly believe that the followers of Imam Hussain (AS) and the Ahl al-Bayt are the true bearers of the Imam’s message,” he tweeted.
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