Srinagar, June 25: Governor N N Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Dr Farooq Abdullah, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, and others have expressed profound grief and sorrow over the gutting of revered shrine of Peer Dastgeer, Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) at Khanyar in old city on Monday.
“Governor was deeply saddened to learn about the serious damage caused by fire to the historical Shrine of Dastgeer Sahib,” an official spokesman said.
He said the Governor expressed relief that the holy relics kept in the Shrine were safe and secure. The Governor hoped, in his message that very early work would commence to restore this revered Shrine to its pristine glory.
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, said, “I am deeply saddened by this unfortunate incident and share the grief of the people.” He expressed satisfaction that the holy relics kept in the shrine are safe and secure.
While appealing people to maintain calm, Omar directed the Muslim Waqaf Board to start the restoration work at the shrine.
National Conference president and union minister for renewable energy Dr Farooq Abdullah expressed shock. “Dr Farooq Abdullah is deeply hurt by the devastating fire at the Dastageer Sahib Shrine but thanked God that the relics, taburakats and hand written copies of the Holy Quran are safe,” a NC spokesman said.
Expressing deep sense of shock and loss over the damage caused to the shrine the Peoples Democratic Party said the incident adds another black chapter to the history of recent tragedies suffered by Kashmir.
“The top leadership of the party met here today under the chairmanship of its patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed to discuss the unfortunate incident which consumed an iconic symbol of Kashmirs architectural glory and one of the most revered spiritual centres of this region,” a PDP spokesman said.
According to a spokesman, party the leadership shared deep grief and tragedy that has engulfed the Kashmiri society as a result of this unfortunate incident. It was observed that the shrine of Hazrat Dastgeer Sahib represented the best of Kashmiris value system and it was a focus of reverence for all residents of Kashmir irrespective of religious or other considerations. The feeling of mourning and outrage at the loss among people is understandable and has to be respected the leaders felt.
The spokesman said it was unfortunate that force was used against the deeply hurt people who were apparently outraged at the lack of prevention and firefighting arrangements at this priceless spiritual and heritage centre. The party leaders observed that the failure to protect such valuable assets in Kashmir has already cost this place dearly and by now lessons should have been learnt from such earlier tragedies. It is a matter of grave concern for the people of the state that if jewels like the Shrine of Dastgeer Sahib (RA) could not be saved in the heart of capital city what could be the fate of a `huge fund of such assets that is spread all over the valley. It was time the party felt that rising above smaller considerations the society gears it self up to preserve what ever is left of Kashmirs great spiritual tradition and glorious civilization.
Party president Mehbooba Mufti and senior leaders including Muzaffar Hussain Baig, Tariq Hameed Karra, Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, Muhammad Dillawar Mir, Muhammad Sartaj Madni, Qazi Muhammad Afzal, Naeem Akhtar, Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain and Muhammad Ashraf Mir attended the meeting.
State Secretary of CPI (M) and MLA, Kulgam M Y Tarigami expressed profound shock and grief over the fire incident.
In a statement, Tarigami said that the revered saint Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) is a great religious scholar who is loved and respected and followed by the Muslim Community all over the world particularly by the people of JK.
“It is a matter of satisfaction that all the holy “Tabarukat” in the Shrine complex are safe,” he added. He appealed to the people to maintain calm peace and amity in this hour of grief.
Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather has expressed grief and shock over the incident.
In a statement, Rather said that Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) was a great saint and religious scholar who spread the light of Islam in the state and contributed a lot in reforming the society. “He is respected and revered equally by all including Muslims and non-Muslims of the state”, Rather said adding that it was a matter of great satisfaction that all the Taburakats, including holly relic of Peer Dastgeer (RA) and rare Quranic manuscripts have been saved and are in the safe custody of Sajad Nisheen of the shrine.
Rather appealed to the people to maintain peace, calm and amity at this hour of grief adding that Muslim Wakaf Board has been asked to undertake reconstruction of the gutted shrine complex immediately.
Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir expressed grief and shock over the incident. “It is a matter of great satisfaction that holly relic of Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) and rare Quranic manuscripts have been saved.”
He appealed people to maintain peace, calm and amity at this hour of grief.
Chairman of Peoples’ Conference Sajad Lone expressed grief and sorrow over the devastating fire incident. “This is an enormous spiritual and emotional loss for the people of Kashmir. I share the sorrow and emotional trauma that this tragedy has caused in every nook and corner of the Valley,” he added.
Minister of State for Home, Nasir Aslam Wani, expressed deep shock and anguish over the fire incident that gutted the 200-year old revered shrine.
Sharing the grief of the people the Minister urged people to maintain calm and remained composed in this hour of sorrow. He also expressed satisfaction over the safety and security of the holy relics.
Chairman Peoples Democratic Front Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen expressed shock. He demanded thorough probe into the incident and asked Chief Minister to personally monitor the probe so that such incidents are not repeated in the Valley of saints.
Chartered Accountant Shiban Dudha, a social and political activist expressed deep shock and anguish at the gutting of Dastgeer sahib shrine. He demanded an immediate probe into this unfortunate incident. “If it is not probed immediately, sincerely and transparently it can bring back the situation to post Chrar-e-Sharief and Baba Reshi destruction days in Kashmir. Our recent past history is a witness to the facts that important sufi dargahs and shrines were gutted down prior to major catastrophic events,” he added.
“Government must show its assertiveness and presence. There was reportedly sufficient security paraphernalia present and how this tragedy occurred needs and immediate answer,” he said.
Dudha said that Dastgeer Sahib shrine is equally revered and respected by Kashmiri Pandits besides majority Muslims.
Senior Congress leader and Former Minister Abdul Gani Vakil expressed shock over the incident. In a statement he demanded immediate probe in the cause of fire and stressed upon the government to bring to fore the facts before the people as soon as possible but at the same time he appealed to the people to maintain peace in order to not to give chance to those forces who are inimical to peace.
Various Sikh organizations expressed shock over the fire incident that destroyed the ancient shrine of Dastgeer Sahab (RA) at Khanyar here.
An emergency meeting of the Sikh organizations was held under the banner of Guru Manyo Granth Society here. Participants expressed shock and grief over the loss of the shrine.
Speaking on the occasion Jasdeep Singh President of the Guru Manyo Granth Society said, “The people of Kashmir irrespective of their religious beliefs have revered the shrines and the places of worship of every community. The Sikh community in the Kashmir valley is shocked over the loss of the revered shrine of Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA).”
Singh said that it is only in Kashmir where a famous Muslim Shrine stands near a historic Sikh Gurudwara and an ancient Hindu temple. “The history of Kashmir is witness to the religious pluralism where for centuries different religions have existed together with peace and harmony.” Singh said.
The society also condemned the preparations of the disaster management cell of Kashmir to fight any such disaster. However the society expressed satisfaction on the fact that the holy relics and other items of historical importance that rested in the shrine were saved from the fire.
Member Parliament Dr Karan Singh has expressed deep shock and grief over the incident, hoping that steps would be taken forthwith to rebuild the sacred shrine.
National President of Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJP) Sanjay Saraf expressed deep sorrow over the gutting of Dastgeer Sahib (RA) Shrine. “It is an un repairable loss, I request all the brethren to maintain peace at this crucial stage and let us work together for the reconstruction of the shrine,” Saraf said in a statement.
He demanded that government should order an inquiry within one week.
Hotelier and past president KHARA, Kazir Muhammad Dar expressed shock and grief over the gutting of shrine of Hazrat Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) at Khanyar, here.
Dar who had also been chairman TAAI (Kashmir chapter) said this incident is most shocking and the government should announce a probe into it. He also appealed people to remain calm.
The Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA) expressed deep sorrow over the incident. At its Managing Committee meet here today the KHARA appealed the government to announce a probe into the incident.
The meeting said the entire Muslim community in Kashmir is pained with the incident.
The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industries-Kashmir (CCIK) expressed shock and grief over the fire incident which ravaged the shrine of Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA).”
The members of the CCIK at a meeting held under the chairmanship of its president M Afzal Parray, expressed shock over the incident and appealed the government to order high level probe into the incident to find out the cause of the fire at the earliest. The Employees’ Joint Action Committee (Q) president Abdul Qayoom Wani and vice-president Nusrat Ahmad Beigh have expressed deep outrage over the tragic incident, demanding impartial probe into it.
Anjuman Ulema Ahnaf, while expressing outrage over the incident, termed it most unfortunate.
All Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association, Qamarwari, at a meeting today with Moulvi Iftikhar Ansari in chair, expressed anguish over the incident. The members termed it tragedy and national loss. They appealed to the people to maintain unity and exhibit patience.
The United Union Federation, Parimpora, Srinagar, chairman B A Tosha, while expressing deep shock over the incident, terming it most unfortunate and great loss to the people of Kashmir.
Jamaat Ahli-sunat of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district also expressed their shock over the incident, demanding a thorough probe into it by some trusted senior official.
In a statement, a spokesman of the organization said, “The incident is tragic but people need to restraint calm to prevent any unfortunate incident to happen.”
The spokesman said the organization also supported the strike call given by religious and political leaders.
Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), J&K State Council, has expressed profound grief over gutting of Ziarat of Dastgeer Sahab (RA).
CII in a statement said Ziarat of Dastgeer Sahab (RA) had been a symbol of peace, harmony and brotherhood over centuries.
“It has been a place of great religious sanctity, belief and hope for all Kashmiris irrespective of their religion, caste etc,” it said.
“All CII members pray and hope that soon we will see the glory of this shrine restored,” it said.
Democratic Party Nationalist (DP-N) has expressed deep sorrow and anguish over the gutting of the shrine of renowned Islamic scholar and saint Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA).
In a statement a spokesman of DP- N said an emergency meeting of its executive members under the chairmanship of G M Bawan was held here this afternoon. “Participants expressed sorrow and grief and expressed solidarity with people. They described gutting down of 200-year old shrine as a great loss to Kashmiris,” he said.
The spokesman urged people to maintain calm and remain united.

NC, PDP SUSPEND POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
Meanwhile, ruling National Conference and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have announced three-day mourning following the tragic fire incident at the revered shrine of Gaus-ul-Azam Dastgeer (RA) at Khanyar.
The two parties suspended all the political activities for three days including Monday as a mark of solidarity, they said in separate statements issued today.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 25 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST