Srinagar: The J&K Waqf Board has ordered a complete ban on the ‘dastaar bandi’ (turban tying) ceremony of people, especially political leaders, at the mosques and shrines managed by it.
The Waqf board is headed by BJP Leader Darkshan Anbrabi and the move comes after Ghulam Nabi Azad was facilitated with Dastar Bandi at Hazratbal shrine of Srinagar by its caretakers just four days ago.
The ban was implemented as per the provisions of the Waqf Act, 1995 as amended in 2013.
More Read
“The Board is in receipt of a number of complaints regarding unethical use of platform of Ziyarats to appease influential people, particularly the Political Laders, through Turban-tying (Dastaar Bandi) ceremony at Ziyarats / Khangahs,” it said.
“The leaders continue to be invited to the shrines and their Dastaar Bandi is carried out on the basis of party affiliations to promote political agenda at sacred religious places.”
“Whereas, the Hon’ble Chairperson, J8K Waqf Board has taken a serious view of the matter, and the Board is of the view that religious places. like, Ziyarats / Khanqahs/Masjids/Darul Ulooms, can only be used to promote religious activities, and Dastaar Bandi at such places can only be carried out to felicitate people for their achievements in the religious field,” Waqf said.
“Now therefore, Dastaar Bandi of people at all religious places, governed by the provisions of the Waqf Act, 1995, is hereby completely banned. However, Dastaar Bandi of people for religious achievements shall be allowed with prior permission of the Central Office Waqf Board. All the Administrators / Executive Officers are directed to ensure strict implementation of this order, and any violation shall immediately be brought to the notice of the Central Office for legal action in the matter.”
Meanwhile, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti slammed the move and accused the BJP government of dismantling all religious and Sufi traditions of Kashmir to implement its divisive agenda.
"Hypocrisy has no limits since BJP themselves leave no opportunity to get turban tying ceremony done whether at a mandir, dargah or gurudwara. They aren’t ready to stop until they dismantle all our religious & Sufi traditions to take control by implementing their divisive agenda," she said in a tweet.
National Conference General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar also criticized the move and said that the tradition of tying the ‘Dastaar ‘ has been practiced for centuries and it was meant to give respect to the visitors and political leaders.
While calling the order ‘laughable’, Sagar said when Amir-e-Kabir Mir Syed Ali Hamdani came to Kashmir to preach and propagate Islam, he was welcomed by people with ‘Dastaar Bandi’. Sagar alleged that “It was yet another attempt to play with the identity of Kashmir”.
