Srinagar, May 24 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir administration’s decision to replace the embossed National Conference founder and first Prime Minister of Kashmir from the police medals with India’s national emblem has evoked a sharp criticism from the mainstream parties.
Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti said the removal of the picture would not affect the personality Sheikh Abdullah.
“Sheikh sahib had played a major role in making Jammu and Kashmir a part of India. And if after 70 years they (BJP government) wants to erase his identity, what will you tell such people? It only shows their mental bankruptcy,” she told reporters in Srinagar.
The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday ordered to replace ‘Sher-i-Kashmir’ Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah with the Police medal for gallantry and meritorious service with the national emblem.
The order was issued over two years after the government changed the name of ‘Sher-i-Kashmir’ Police Medal into J&K Police Medal.
National Conference spokesperson Nabi Dar said the order shows the “nefariousness” designs of the incumbents.
“With due respect to the national Emblem, these attempts to erase our history, identity and icon show nefariousness of the incumbents. People of J&K have struggled on many fronts to be where they are now. They fought oppression. No one can change that. Not by replacing/changing names,” he tweeted.
CPI(M) Central Committee Member M Y Tarigami said the BJP cannot erase the contributions and historical significance of Sher-e-Kashmir.
“BJP’s panglossian view of rewriting the history by name changing may favour their narrow communal agenda but it cannot absolve its complicity from annals. You cannot erase the contributions and historical significance of Sher-i-Kashmir by petty name changing gimmicks,” he tweeted.
