Administration allowed procession through traditional routes from 6 am to 8 am:
Shia clerics welcome move, says will participate in peaceful manner
In a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday decided to allow the 8th Muharram procession through the traditional routes with a timing rider after almost three decades.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri that the administration after considering the Shia leaders plea about allowing the Muharram processions through traditional routes, has decided to allow the processions on 8th Muharram.
“The procession on 8th will be allowed from traditional routes between 6 am to 8 am,” he said.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Shia leaders had met LG Manoj Sinha and sought lifting of ban on Muharam processions through traditional routes that include Guru Bazar to Budshah bridge to M A Road to Dalgate and then to Zadibal for culmination.
Official sources said the timing has been fixed to ensure the general public faces least inconvenience as MA Road and Dalgate areas remain busy throughout the day.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Muhammad Aijaz Asad has issued a formal order in this regard, saying that the procession has been allowed on several conditions.
The order reads that Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar vide number CS/45-23(Muh)/33730-34 Dated: 26-07-2023 has conveyed ‘NO OBJECTION’ in favour (Yaadgar-i-Hussaini Committee) for taking out Muharram procession on 8th Muharram-1445 from Guru Bazar to Dalgate via Budshah Kadal and M.A Road, Srinagar subject to the conditions.
The conditions include that they shall not indulge in any anti-national, anti establishment speeches, sloganeering or propaganda and no activity shall in any way affect the communal, sectarian harmony, religious, ethnic, cultural and regional sentiments of the people.
“No activity during the procession should be prejudicial to the security and sovereignty of the state and should not disrespect any national symbol, emblem. They shall not hoist any flag depicting provocative slogans, text and or photos of terror outfits, logos of banned organizations at both national and international level.
DC Srinagar in his order said that keeping in view the above; the permission is hereby granted in favour of Yaadgar-i-Hussaini Committee, Kaloo Manzil Mohalla Guru Bazar for taking out Muharram procession on 8th Muharram-1445 from Guru Bazar to Dalgate via Budshah Kadal and M.A Road, Srinagar from 6:00 am to 8:00 am on 27th July, 2023.
Meanwhile, the Shia clerics have appealed to people to join the procession in a peaceful manner.
“The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has permitted the Muharram 8 procession after 3 decades. I urge all the Azadars of Imam Hussain (a.s.) to participate in this historical juloos in a peaceful manner, becoming the messengers of Hussain (a.s.) to the whole world. Let our devotion resonate with love and compassion, as we carry the timeless message of Imam Hussain’s sacrifice,” President of J&K Shia Association, Imran Raza Ansari said.
Chairman, Anjuman-e-Sharie Shian Darul Mustafa, Aga Syed Mujatba welcomed the government order and said that they will participate in the procession tomorrow.
“We will carry out the procession as per the timing given by the government,” he said.
Pertinently, the procession on the routes from Guru Bazar to Dalgate via Budshah Kadal and M.A Road, Srinagar will be carried out after 32 years. The procession along the major routes on 8th and 10th Muharram were banned by the then government in 1989
