Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 27: Lashing out at the Chairperson of the Waqf Board, Darkshan Andrabi for her recent announcement that the Board is preparing to start recruiting degree-holding Imams, Mubalighs and Muazins in Kashmir, Apni Party Chief Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, today said that “if the recruitment of Imams and Muazins must be based on qualifications and degrees, then let’s commence with assessing the qualifications of the Waqf Board Chairperson herself first.”
To make his opposition more clear and forceful, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari named Prime Minister Modi, the Home Minister and J&K’s LG Manoj Sinha and posed a question to these dignitaries: “How would you react if someone suggested appointing degree-holding priests in revered places like the Ram Mandir?”
While addressing a public rally in Tilsara of Charar-e-Sharief in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, he stressed that such actions amount to direct interference in religious affairs and are absolutely unacceptable. “Don’t try to pain our hearts by such moves, and don’t try to play with our religious sentiments,” he warned.
Bukhari urged the people to remain united when it comes to protecting their fundamental and religious rights guaranteed by the Constitution. He said, “I feel sorry for the politicians who are divided to the extent that they can’t even unite on religious matters. However, I urge the people to stand united to safeguard their Constitutional rights and not allow anyone to meddle in religious affairs beyond limits, just like the Waqf Board is attempting to do by recruiting Imams and Mouzins based on qualifications and degrees.”
During his speech, Altaf Bukhari yet again reiterated his demand for the release of jailed religious leaders and said, “Time and again, I urge authorities to release the Valley’s prominent religious leaders like Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Moulana Abdul Rasheed Dawoodi, Moulana Mushtaq Ahmad Veeri, Moulana Manzoor, and others. These religious leaders have a huge following in the Valley and they have a remarkable influence over the people; thus, they can play an imperative role in helping eradicate drug abuse in the Valley.”
Altaf Bukhari urged people to join hands with the Apni Party to strengthen it further so that the party can play its role more powerfully.
Chairman of the party’s Parliamentary Affairs Committee (PAC) Mohammad Dilawar Mir and others also spoke on the occasion.
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