Taking out of Muharram procession after 34 years
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 28: Accusing successive Governments of not lifting the ban on Muharram procession in Srinagar city of Kashmir valley during the last 34 years, the members of Shia community in J&K termed the Government decision of allowing the procession on 8th Muharram yesterday in Srinagar a historical decision.
The various leaders and prominent people of Shia Sect from J&K said that the justice has been given to the community by the present Government after granting the permission for taking out of Muharram procession in Srinagar after a gap of 34 long years yesterday. They described it a great decision of the LG administration which gave justice to the members of Shia sect whose pleas over the years were not considered by the successive political Governments for their vested interests.
Mohammed Ashraf Khan, a prominent Shia leader and spokesperson, Yadgar Hussaini Guru Bazaar, Srinagar and spokesperson, Imamia Federation Kashmir said entire Shia community is pleased over the Government decision and candidly welcomes it.
He regretted that the community organisations earlier had approached all successive Governments for the grant of permission but to no avail. It is a historical decision and Shia community all over world hails it.
Mohammed Ashraf Khan, while giving background of 8th Muharram and 10 Aashura processions said registration of the procession was made in the year 1924 during Maharaja’s rule and up to 1964 the Eighth Muhharam procession was taken from Guru Bazaar, Srinagar to Hasnabad via Habbakadal during night. However, from 1964 up to 1977 it was taken out to Shamaswari during the day.
He said in 1978 when Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah was Chief Minister of J&K an accord was made and the 8th Muhharam procession was taken from Guru Bazaar via Old Secretariat Srinagar and M A Road to Dalgate and its registration was with Yadgar Hussaini Committee, Guru Bazaar.
Terming the decision of allowing procession from its original route yesterday by Lt Governor’s administration, he said it is really a great decision. “Our children were so enthusiastic to participate in the procession yesterday that they became emotional and sentimental after participating first time in the procession which was unnecessary banned by the successive Governments. They were asking the elders of the community about the reasons of banning this religious processions of Muharram in Kashmir,” he added.
Khan said what the successive political Governments failed to do in last 34 years was done by LG Manoj Sinha led J&K administration.
Prof Sujat Khan, general secretary, Anjuman Imamia Jammu while expressing his great pleasure over the decision said it is not known why the successive Governments banned the procession during last 34 years. He wanted to know when Government has entire men and machinery at its command why could not it ensure the religious procession to be taken out from its original route in Srinagar during the last over three decades.
He said the peaceful procession taken out yesterday in Srinagar showed that the Shia , Sunny communities lived in complete harmony in Kashmir and there was no rift between them. Yesterday’s peaceful procession was the best proof of that, he added.
He said in other States where Shias and Sunnis live in the same area, Muharram processions are not banned by the respective Governments there. The Governments in these States ensure that peace should prevail during the procession and they mean that. Even in Jammu we take the procession every year and members of other communities also extend their full cooperation, he added.
Mohammed Qasim Baba, former Chairman Municipal Committee Magam, Tangmarg and Mutwali, Imambargah Babapora, Magam said “We are very grateful to Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha for granting permission to Muharram procession yesterday and ensuring proper security to it. What successive governments could not do in 34 years was done of by LG administration including Divisional Commissioner and IG Srinagar, DCs and SPs of Srinagar and Budgam, he added.
Baba said that the ban on taking out of Muharram procession was imposed during NC Government in 1989 on personnel reasons. “Later when political Government was restored in 1996 after a gap of seven years of Central rule no steps were taken to grant permission to Muharram processions in Srinagar which I say with responsibility was banned by the Government of that time on political grounds”, he added.
He said “apart from party politics and religion we should admit that it was a great decision of LG administration as the Shia community in Kashmir got justice after a gap of 34 long years. This way the LG administration has scripted a new chapter in the history of Kashmir.”
He also expressed the hope that the Government will also grant permission to procession on 10th Muharram tomorrow.
Ashaq Hussian, president, Shia Federation Jammu who also termed it a historical decision said entire community will remember this for ages together. He, while complimenting Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha and the team of his officers said they won the hearts of the Shia community.
He said it was a peaceful procession yesterday and people of other communities also extended full support with their participation. The people also extended cooperation to the Government and this is indication that the peace prevails in the Valley, he added.
He demanded restoration of land to Shia community at Peer Mitha, Jammu and expressed hope that the LG administration will soon take a decision in this regard also.
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