By Dabirah Hassan
Srinagar- Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, Dr. Darakshan Andrabi, has chosen to remain silent on allegations made by Kamal Farooqi, the former Khateeb of Dargah Hazratbal.
Farooqi who served under Dr. Andrabi’s leadership was suspended by the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board in April this year after a non-local Hindu converted to Islam at the shrine. The ceremony was presided over by Farooqui and the board accused him of “forcible conversion”.
Farooqi has now questioned the authority of the Muslim Waqf Board for barring him from leading prayers and raised concerns about external influences on the board’s decisions.
Dr. Andrabi, however, asserted her autonomy as a minister, and firmly declined to address Farooqi’s statements.
“I am not obligated to respond to my employees,” Dr. Andrabi said. “He used to work under me. As a minister, I am not obliged to answer his accusations. Let him speak. If Omar Abdullah or any other politician had made these claims, I would have considered responding,” she said.
Dr. Andrabi underscored the temporary nature of her role and the inevitable changes in leadership within the board.
“No one can stay in the same position forever,” she emphasized. “In time, I too will step down from my position.”
She reaffirmed her dedication to her office’s responsibilities and emphasized the independence of her decision-making process.
Farooqi has argued that he is not an employee of the Waqf Board and their decision to prevent him from performing his religious duties is unjustified. He said that the conversion of a Hindu man from Haryana to Islam was voluntary and not under duress.
“We seek the government’s intervention. This is a matter of religious delicacy and sentiment. The Waqf Board has no mandate to interfere with personal faith and religious practices. The Indian Constitution according to Article 25 gives religious freedom to practice, profess, and propagate any religion,” Farooqui said.
“Accepting Islam by choice is not forced conversion. My family has been discharging the duties of Imam-o-Khateeb of the Hazratbal shrine for the last more than three centuries and I am not an employee of the Waqf Board. Forbidding me from offering and leading prayers at the shrine is unjustified and unacceptable,” Farooqi added.
Farooqi emphasized that there was no mention of his name in the FIR filed by the Jammu and Kashmir police against another individual, Anayat Muntazir, for the alleged forced conversion.
He said the family of Farooqis, caretakers of the shrine for many centuries, “always remained apolitical” and have emphasised on religious harmony, fraternity and peace.
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