Muslim Clerics Displeased Over Shiva Temple Visit of Mehbooba Mufti

New Delhi: Recently PDP chief and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti visited the Navagraha temple in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on March 15. She is reported to have offered ‘Jalabhishek’ to the Shivalinga at the temple. This was unpalatable for a section of Muslim clerics.

Clerics of Darul Uloom Deoband have expressed annoyance over her purported ‘puja’ at the Navagraha temple in the Poonch district. These clerics are of the opinion that obeying the tradition of another religion is against their faith.

As per reports, Vice Chancellor of madrassa Jamia Sheikh-ul Hind, Maulana Mufti Asad Qasmi, said: “Muslims should follow their religion only. There is no permission as per the Sharia to adopt traditions of other religions.”

Jammu and Kashmir BJP termed Mehbooba Mufti’s act as a “political gimmick. The spokesperson for BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir wing Ranbir Singh Pathania said that her visit to the temple was “plain drama and gimmick”.

But Mehbooba Mufti retaliated to the criticism after her temple visit and said India is a secular nation and she respects all religions.

“We are a secular nation. We follow ‘Ganga Jamuni tehzeeb’. I respect all religions. I went to a temple built by our leader, Late Yashpal Sharma ji. It is a beautiful temple. Someone at the temple handed me a vessel full of water with love. I respected his affection and devotion and did Jal Abhishek of Shiv Lingam,” she said.