Mob Vandalises Plaque With Ashoka Emblem At Hazratbal Shrine, Sparks War Of Words In Valley

A massive controversy erupted at Srinagar’s Hazratbal Shrine on Friday after a mob used stones to smash a renovation plaque engraved with the Ashoka emblem over its perceived violation of Islamic principles against figurative depictions in sacred spaces.

The uproar stemmed from interpretations of Islamic principles, particularly Tawheed meaning the oneness of God, which strictly prohibits idol worship or the depiction of figures in places of worship.

Protesters argued that the emblem’s sculpted lions resembled figurative representations, making it incompatible with the shrine’s religious ethos.