Why is there opposition to the proposed cancer hospital in the historic Idgah of Srinagar? Know the reason
On 22 September, Waqf Board chief and BJP leader Darakhshan Andrabi announced the construction of a cancer hospital on the Idgah land.
By Waqf Board at the historic Idgah of Srinagar cancer hospital After the announcement of the construction, the dispute arising inside the valley is not taking its name to stop. Local leaders as well as religious gurus also supported BJP-run Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board started opposing this announcement. The point of protest is that now both separatist and mainstream political organizations see it as a threat to the government to control Muslim places in the Valley and to protect the people. Idgah Looking suspiciously to close.
The Hurriyat led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said that the government wants to capture the holy place of Idgah. Whereas this place is holy for Kashmiris. It is also part of their historical, cultural and spiritual heritage. The 80-acre Idgah also houses a cemetery of martyrs, where more than 1,500 people, including terrorists and protesters killed by security forces during the years of unrest in Kashmir, are buried.
Idgah is spread over 650 kanals
On 22 September, Waqf Board chief and BJP leader Darakhshan Andrabi announced the construction of a cancer hospital on the Idgah land. Andrabi said that he had initially planned to build a hospital near the shrine of Sultan-ul-Arifeen Sheikh Hamza Makhdoomi in Rainawari, but “the archeology department did not allow the construction of the building there.” He said that about 80 kanals of land has been earmarked for the hospital, while the Idgah is spread over 650 kanals.
cannot be developed as a playground
At the same time, a week after the Waqf Board’s statement, Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Pandurag Pol said that a state-of-the-art playground with cricket and football facilities will be developed at the government Idgah. The Hurriyat led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that the government wants to capture the holy place of Idgah. At the same time, a month ago, Andrabi had said that the Idgah is only for offering Namaz and hence it cannot be developed as a playground.
There is an attempt to seize the graveyard of martyrs
However, the Idgah is used for offering congregational prayers on Eid. Also it is used by the youth of the old town as an informal playground. Religious and political organizations in Kashmir fear that apart from taking over the historic Idgah ground, the move is an attempt by the administration to seize the graveyard of martyrs.
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